A Gold Coast taxi driver has been arrested after allegedly threatening passengers with a knife and later hitting one of them over a fare dispute.
Key points:
- A taxi driver allegedly threatened a passenger and struck a pedestrian in Surfers Paradise
- A member of the public witnessed the initial incident and notified police
- The 35-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving and going armed to cause fear
Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said a member of the public called police after seeing the driver arguing with four male passengers on Hanlan Street in Surfers Paradise around 1:30 this morning.
“There was some sort of dispute in the taxi, a member of the public has seen that and alerted us and we’ve had them followed on CCTV camera,” Superintendent Sheldon said.
Police followed the vehicle’s movements via the council CCTV system to Cavill Avenue, where the driver allegedly struck one of the passengers.
“The person has ended up on the bonnet and the taxi driver reversed back and the person has fallen off,” Superintendent Sheldon said.
“He’s driven at another person nearby and didn’t strike the second person.”
The men received minor injuries.
The 35-year-old taxi driver was arrested a short time later at Macintosh Island and has been charged with dangerous driving and going armed so as to cause fear.
He was granted police bail and is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 15.
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