Two charged after Uber driver beaten, hospitalized
Police are still looking for a third suspect
Police have charged two people with aggravated assault and are searching for a third person after an Uber driver was beaten and left unconscious earlier this month.
On June 8, two men and a woman got into the driver's taxi outside a downtown nightclub at Bank and Slater Streets, said police.
After a short drive, the riders became aggressive with the driver, who abandoned his vehicle at the corner of Elgin and Lisgar, police said.
The driver tried to flee but was chased down and attacked, police said. The attack left the driver hospitalized for a few days with head and facial injuries.
A 23-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, both from Ottawa, have been charged aggravated assault. The man also faces two charges of breach of undertaking.
Uber account deactivated
The man appeared in court on Wednesday and was granted bail on strict conditions, while the woman has a court date scheduled for July.
The third suspect is described as a black male, about 30 years old and standing 6 feet tall, with a muscular build and long hair.
Uber has also deactivated the rider's account, according to a statement. The company has taken "steps to provide ongoing support to the driver" and is working with police in the investigation, Uber said.
Anyone with information can call Ottawa Police's Central District Investigator Sgt. Det. Anthony Costantini at 613-236-1222, ext. 5166. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police iOS app.