Two teenagers have been charged following an alleged assault on a rideshare driver who cancelled a trip due to offensive behaviour.
Incident details
Police allege the 39-year-old driver picked up four passengers from a home in Warrandyte, in Melbourne's northeast, at approximately 2:30pm on May 17. The group allegedly began smoking and using offensive language inside the vehicle, prompting the driver to cancel the ride.
The driver then pulled over on Main Road in Lower Plenty, about 20 minutes away, and attempted to retrieve the passengers' belongings from the boot.
Assault and injuries
Police allege two of the passengers then attacked the driver, repeatedly punching him in the head. Detective Senior Constable Patrick Mulcahy described the incident: "The assault has continued with the driver being pummeled to the ground, punched multiple times in the face, kicked in the head, while the two other males were sort of laughing and pointing, using offensive and racially charged language."
The assault only stopped when other drivers intervened, causing the males to flee. The driver suffered a broken nose, facial swelling, and bruising, and later sought hospital treatment. Mulcahy said the man was left traumatised and had to take time off work.
"He was just trying to do his job and as a result of having the audacity to request they stop smoking in his vehicle was savagely beaten as a result," Mulcahy added.
Charges laid
An 18-year-old Reservoir man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in Melbourne's Darebin area on Friday, a day after police released CCTV images and appealed for public assistance. The 18-year-old was charged with affray and bailed to appear before Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on August 4. The 17-year-old was charged with intentionally causing injury and affray and was bailed to appear before a children's court at a later date.
