Winnipeg taxi driver charged with sexual assault

A 55-year-old cab driver in Winnipeg has been charged with sexually assaultinga transgender passenger.

Police, who called the suspect a man "working in the capacity of providing local transportation," saidthe passenger was assaultedaround 11:30 p.m. CT onMay 15.

The 22-year-old transgender man got into the cabin the area of Broadway and wasdriven to a secluded area in the 1100 block of Main Street, near Redwood Avenue. Along the way,the driver made inappropriate sexual advances, which were declined, police said.

A short time later, the manwas sexually assaulted, police said.

Eventually, hewasdriven to hisrequesteddestination and police were called.

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On May 24, the driver,having learned of the police investigation, went to the victim's homeand offered money to get the complaint dropped, police said.

The victim declined and reported it to the investigators.

The driverhas been charged with sexual assault and attempting to obstruct justice.

He remains in police custody.

Safe ride-sharing group shocked

There have been numerous stories over the past couple of years about female passengers in Winnipeg being hit on or sexually assaulted by taxi drivers.

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Natasha Soucie is with Ikwe Safe Ride Service, which was created in response to reports of abusive cab drivers.

"I guess it's just mind-boggling. You would think that after all the bad attention they've had,that things would start getting better," Soucie said.

She said she is encouraged to know that the victimwent to the police twice.

"They say when one person stands up for something that's not right,it shows other people that it's not right as well, and it will bring other people forward," she said. "I would say it's very empowering."

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