A tip from the public led to the Sunday afternoon arrest of a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a Medicine Hat taxi driver and drove the woman to Calgary in the stolen taxi.
According to police, officers responded to the area of 19 Street and 14 Avenue Northwest at around 2:30 p.m. following a reported sighting of a man matching the description of Shawn Baldhead, the 28-year-old man identified as the suspect in Thursday evening's assault in Medicine Hat.
Responding officers determined the man had likely boarded a Calgary Transit bus and Calgary Transit officials were notified. Police, including HAWCS aerial support, located the bus and Baldhead was arrested without incident.
As of 4:30 Sunday afternoon, Baldhead remained in the custody of the Calgary Police Service and was being questioned.
Late Thursday evening, a female taxi driver picked up a fare in downtown Medicine Hat. At the passenger's destination, the man allegedly attacked the driver and took control of the taxi van. Police say the suspect drove the taxi employee to another area of the city and sexually assaulted her. The suspect drove the stolen vehicle and the victim to Calgary where the victim was released.
Baldhead was wanted on charges including:
- Sexual assault with a weapon
- Unlawful confinement
- Robbery
- Uttering threats to cause death (three counts)
