Taxi operators at war in King’s Park

By Aaron Humes: Nigerian national taxi operator Henry Asoluka, 40, says he suffered a Tenth Day nightmare at the hands of a fellow driver after running out of gas on his way home.

Shannon Young, 41, has been charged with aggravated assault, harm and damage to Asoluka’s 2003 grey Toyota Sienna vehicle.

Asoluka told police that around 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, he was headed to his Vasquez Avenue residence in King’s Park from a mechanic shop on King Street when the vehicle stalled and ran out of gas. Asoluka said he could not recall the name of the street except that it was in King’s Park, but it was in front of five men who were drinking and smoking on the other side.

Asoluka approached to ask one of the men if he could borrow a gallon container for gas, but another attacked him without warning with a screwdriver, jabbing at his chest while taunting him: “You are in Kings Park now, what will you do?” while another approached waving a Belikin Stout bottle at him.

Outwardly calm but fearing for his life, Asoluka backed away and called a friend, who showed up 15 minutes later to take him to the Puma gas station on Freetown Road, but not before locking up his vehicle.

But on their return, he saw the tire on the rear passenger side slashed with a knife.

Asoluka, annoyed, shouted at the group of men who were still there but backed off when one of them came at him with a short machete.

Asoluka left in his vehicle (his friend had already gone before him) but the alleged machete wielder, identified as Young, followed him in a red Dodge Caravan and deliberately banged into his vehicle’s front bumper to stop it on St. Joseph Street, then flung his machete at Asoluka’s driver side window while he raised it, breaking it.

Asoluka said Young continued to try to get at him, accompanied by two friends, and he, Asoluka, fled through the neighborhood asking for help as he was still being chased.

Police eventually caught up with Asoluka, who found his vehicle heavily damaged.

Young, who appeared before Magistrate, Emmerson Banner pleaded not guilty to the charges and was offered bail which he met. He is due back in October.

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