Man charged after taxi driver punched in neck near Tyne Street and East 47th

A taxi driver was punched in the neck at Tyne Street and East 47th Avenue on the evening of Oct. 28 after he refused a man a ride, then kept his eyes on the suspect until police arrived, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Officers took the man into custody, and he was taken to jail and charged with assault and mischief. The charges are allegations that have not been tested in court.

VPD named the accused as Brent David Hasman, 50.

The assault call came in shortly after 8 p.m. Police described the suspect as an unknown man with a description similar to that of a man reported in an earlier call, at around 7:30 p.m. In that first report, a caller said someone had damaged his vehicle's side mirror near Butler Street and East 46th Avenue before leaving the area. The two reports came in within about half an hour of each other, in the same part of Vancouver.

The driver told police the man approached him while he was inside his taxi. According to VPD, the man allegedly punched the driver in the neck, then punched the taxi several times after being refused a ride.

The driver watched the suspect until officers arrived, police said.

Attacks on taxi drivers have been reported in the city before. Daily Hive previously reported that a 16-year-old was arrested for allegedly stabbing a taxi driver in the Downtown Eastside last year.