3 cab drivers charged after taxi vandalism appear in court

Three taxi driversappeared in court Friday to face charges after allegedly vandalizing taxis during a protest on the Airport Parkway earlier this week.

The men, all from Ottawa,were identified by police and arrested Thursday. They are54, 60 and 21 years old.

Each man was charged withone countof mischief over $5,000 and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon, specified as a metal pole in court documents.

The men do not have criminal records, according to Ottawacourt information.

They are scheduled to return to court onSept 28.

Airport taxi drivershave been locked out of the airport cab stand for five weeks in adispute with their dispatcher,Coventry Connections, over an increase infees for the exclusive right to pick up at theairport.

Ottawa taxi drivers who continue to pick up at the airport have said they believe their vehicles are being vandalized in retaliation.

Ottawa policereceived several reports of taxis being vandalized on Tuesdayand a video was posted to YouTube showingprotesters smashing the back windshield of a Bluelinetaxi.

A New Brunswick manhad 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.

RAW Blueline taxi windshield smashed

9 years ago

Duration 0:17

Protesters on the Airport Parkway caught smashing the back window of a taxi.