On October 7th, at about 2:00 am, West Precinct officers responded to a report of a hit and run collision at 7th and Union Street. The suspect vehicle had been driving the wrong way on Union Street and collided with a car that was emerging from under Two Union Square.
The occupants of the suspect vehicle got out of their car and jumped into a taxi, attempting to flee the scene, but witnesses stopped the cab, explaining that the passengers were fleeing the scene of an accident. The suspect driver, who was seated in the back seat of the cab, grabbed the cab driver from behind and tried to grab the keys to the taxi, which were still in the ignition. One of the witnesses was recording the incident on his cell phone, and the suspect punched him in the face, breaking his jaw, in an attempt to get the phone. The suspect and his two passengers then fled on foot.
The suspect and his passengers were located by responding officers a couple of blocks away. The group was detained and positively identified by witnesses. The driver, a 26 year old male, was arrested for Investigation of Assault and Investigation of Robbery, and charges were requested on assault, Hit and Run, driving on a suspended license and Driving Under the Influence.
The victim with the broken jaw was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he received treatment.