Police Officer Charged with Assaulting Uber Driver

A veteran Boston police officer is being accused of physically attacking an Uber driver and taking his car.

Police arrested 40-year-old Michael Doherty, a 16-year department veteran, early Sunday morning, NECN reported.

The driver for the ride-sharing service reported that Doherty, an off-duty passenger, accused him of bringing him to the wrong location. The victim said the passenger physically assaulted him once he stopped the vehicle.

The Uber driver exited the vehicle before the passenger jumped into the front seat and drove off, according to a statement from the Boston Police Department.

The victim, with a passing motorist who assisted him, followed the vehicle to E. 1st Street and Farragut Road where the suspect stopped and exited the victim’s car, Boston.com noted.

Uber spokesman Taylor Bennett issued the following statement regarding the assault on Monday: “Our thoughts are with our valued partner during his recovery and we are supporting him in any way we can during this time. We have a strict policy to remove any rider that exhibits aggressive or abusive behavior from the platform and we have permanently blocked this rider’s access. We stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation.”

Doherty was placed on paid administrative leave. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

Image via Shutterstock.

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