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Grand jury indicts Boston cop for alleged racist assault on Uber driver – Metro US

Grand jury indicts Boston cop for alleged racist assault on Uber driver

Grand jury indicts Boston cop for alleged racist assault on Uber driver
Metro file

A grand jury has indicted the off-duty Boston cop who is alleged to have assaulted an Uber driver earlier this year.

Michael Doherty, 40, of South Boston, was indicted on two counts of assault and battery, one count of assault and battery for purposes of intimidation, one count of use of a motor vehicle without authority. A Suffolk County grand jury returned the indictments Thursday.

Doherty is alleged to have taken an Uber from Charlestown to Southie in the early hours of Jan. 4. Doherty at one point allegedly got into an argument with the driver, telling the man he took him to the wrong place. At some point Doherty allegedly referred to the driver using a racial epithet before hitting the driver. Authorities say the driver then fled his Toyota Prius, with Doherty chasing him around the vehicle before hopping in the driver’s seat and driving away.

The victim flagged down a car, according to the district attorney’s office, and the driver of that car followed Doherty in the Prius.

As the victim flagged down a passing car driven by another Uber driver, Doherty entered the victim’s 2005 Toyota Prius and drove away, prosecutors said. The victim entered the second Uber car and the two men followed

Doherty stopped and left the Prius at East 1st Street and Farragut Road in Southie. Once out of the car, he then approached both men, used another racial epithet, this one directed at the driver of the second car. He allegedly the Uber driver to the ground and began hitting him, according to prosecutors. The three men then got into a physical struggle before Doherty left the scene.

“These allegations are very troubling and certainly don’t reflect the attitudes of the hard working, compassionate men and women of the Boston Police Department,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. “This should send a strong message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated or ignored. I hold my officers to the highest of standards, and will take swift action if any should choose to conduct themselves inappropriately. I also want to thank the Boston Police Anti-Corruption Division and the Suffolk County DA’s Office for their work in this very troubling case.”

Doherty is due back in South Boston Municipal Court on April 6. His arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court has yet to be scheduled.