Ottawa police arrest 3 in Airport Parkway taxi vandalism case

Three men have been arrested and are facing charges after at least two taxis were vandalized on the Airport Parkway earlier this week during an ongoing labour dispute.

• Taxi passenger dodges flying glass as protesters attack cab near Ottawa airport
• Airport Parkway protest turns violent as police investigate
• Ottawa taxi driver fears for family after cab is vandalized overnight
• 3 Blueline taxis vandalized overnight as cab dispute continues

Airport taxi drivershave been locked out of the airport cab stand for five weeks in adispute with their dispatcher,Coventry Connections, over an increase infees for the exclusive right to pick up at theairport.

Ottawa taxi drivers who continue to pick up at the airport have said they believe their vehicles are being vandalized in retaliation.

Ottawa policereceived several reports of taxis being vandalized on Tuesday, and a video was posted to YouTube thatshowed protesters smashing the back windshield of a Blueline Taxi.

Three suspects were identified and arrested Thursday, police said in a news release.

The men will be formally charged in court on Friday and their identities are not being released until then, police said.

Each man is facing one count of mischief over $5,000 and one count ofpossession of a dangerous weapon.

Policecontinue to collect evidence from the Tuesday protests, as well as other acts of vandalism related to the ongoing dispute, police said.

Several cabshad their windows smashed and tires slashed earlier this monthin south Ottawa and Barrhaven.

RAW Blueline taxi windshield smashed

9 years ago

Duration 0:17

Protesters on the Airport Parkway caught smashing the back window of a taxi.

A New Brunswick manhad to dodge glass when the taxi carrying him was attacked by protesters. George MacLeod of St. Stephen, said protesters smashed the rear windshield of the cab he was in on Tuesday after he was picked up at the Ottawa airport.