A man has been charged after a taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and had her vehicle stolen in Mount Isa yesterday morning, Queensland Police say.
It will be alleged on July 22 around 4am the 32-year-old female driver attended a taxi rank on Miles Street where she was flagged down for a fare by a male customer.
The driver then transported the man to a number of locations before being directed to an address along Duchess Road.
As the taxi slowed down the man allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and jumped across to the driver’s side of the vehicle, demanding the victim’s money and phone.
The man allegedly took the items before punching the driver in the face and making further threats for her to exit the vehicle.
The woman complied and the man allegedly fled in the stolen taxi southbound along Duchess Road.
The victim walked 1.5 kilometres before flagging down a passing motorist for assistance.
She sustained a broken nose as a result of the alleged attack.
Ongoing investigations by detectives resulted in the stolen taxi and a sum of cash being located along Blainey Road around 8.40am yesterday.
A 21-year-old Townview man was arrested a short time later and charged with robbery with violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving a vehicle unlicensed and possessing dangerous drugs.
He is due to appear in Mount Isa Magistrates Court today.
