Two Innisfail men are facing assault charges in connection to a cabbie beating in Red Deer last spring.
Last week, Red Deer city RCMP issued a news release stating the two men, who are not in custody, are scheduled to appear in provincial court this month and in October to answer to the charges.
Following an attack on an Alberta Gold Taxi driver on April 10, Red Deer city RCMP said Mounties initiated an investigation at a north-side city location.
Police said two males in their late teens to early 20s took a taxi and then refused to pay once they reached their destination.
When the driver questioned their refusal, the pair of culprits assaulted him by punching and kicking him in the stomach, said RCMP.
Police said the suspects were last seen heading southbound on Northey Avenue on foot. Police vehicles and the RCMP's Dog Services Unit patrolled the area but the suspects were not located.
The taxi driver was taken to hospital and later released.
Red Deer city RCMP Cpl. Leanne Molzahn said last week the two suspects in the cabbie attack were ultimately arrested due to the public's widespread sharing of photos of a pair of assault suspects police released in April.
Thomas Currie, 21, of Innisfail, was arrested without incident in Blackfalds on Aug. 9 on an unrelated matter. He is charged with assault causing bodily harm, and committing fraud to obtain transportation. He is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Oct. 17.
Richard Barthlow, 22, of Innisfail, was arrested without incident on April 25 in Red Deer. He is charged with assault and failing to comply with an order to appear in court. He was scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Sept. 26.
Last week, Molzahn said news of the pair's arrests was not released to the public in a timely manner due to a communications mix-up at the detachment.
“Unfortunately that occasionally happens in a detachment of this size. It is something that gets lost in the shuffle,” said Molzahn. “It wasn't communicated down the line and we were not able to get that out sooner.”
Both men, who were released from custody immediately after their arrests, have made prior court appearances in connection to the cabbie beating, said Molzahn.
