Ottawa police arrest 3 in Airport Parkway taxi vandalism case
Men face charges of mischief over $5,000 and possession of a dangerous weapon
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 drivers have been locked out of the airport cab stand for five weeks in a dispute with their dispatcher, Coventry Connections, over an increase in fees for the exclusive right to pick up at the airport.
Ottawa taxi drivers who continue to pick up at the airport have said they believe their vehicles are being vandalized in retaliation.
Ottawa police received several reports of taxis being vandalized on Tuesday, and a video was posted to YouTube that showed 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 of possession of a dangerous weapon.
Police continue to collect evidence from the Tuesday protests, as well as other acts of vandalism related to the ongoing dispute, police said.
Several cabs had their windows smashed and tires slashed earlier this month in south Ottawa and Barrhaven.
A New Brunswick man had 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.