Medicine Hat cabbie sexually assaulted and kidnapped, suspect may be in Calgary

Police believe a man wanted in connection with asexual assault in Medicine Hat is in the Calgary area and are asking the public for help in locating him.

The incident began when the male suspect approached a taxi parked in downtown Medicine Hat around 10 p.m. on Thursday night and asked the female driver for a ride to the city's Southview Drive area.

When they arrived, policed said the man stepped out of the cab briefly, then returned, attacked the driver and took control of the vehicle.

Police said he then drove the cab to the Riverside area, where he parked and sexually assaulted the victim.

Kidnapped, taken to Calgary

He then drove to Calgary while keeping the woman unlawfully confined in the vehicle, according to police.

The woman was released from the vehicle in Calgary and sought help at a nearby home.

As of Friday afternoon, police said the woman's vehiclewas still missing and the suspectremainedat large.

The suspect is described as an Aboriginal man with a medium build, less than six feet tall, in his early 30s, with short hair and a tattoo, described as a dot, on his left cheek.

He was clean shaven and wearing blue jeans and ared baseball cap backwards on his head at the time of the attack.

Police are also looking for a blue 2005 Dodge Caravan with company markings "Deluxe Taxi" and "Unit #41."

The vehicle had an Albertalicence plate:K 54924.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the vehicle is asked to contact police at403-529-8481or Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477.

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