Man assaulted taxi driver and stole vehicle in Vaasa before fleeing on foot

A man in Vaasa assaulted a taxi driver and seized control of the vehicle before abandoning it and fleeing, local police reported Thursday. The suspect was later tracked down by a police dog after a 900-metre chase, according to public broadcaster Yle.

The incident began late Wednesday night when a man born in the early 2000s left a city centre restaurant by taxi, heading towards the Huutoniemi district. Upon arriving at a residential driveway, the man attacked the driver, striking them before taking control of the vehicle. The car then veered off course and collided with a concrete foundation of a house terrace.

The driver sustained minor injuries in the assault. While the vehicle was damaged, no structural harm was reported to the building.

After the crash, the suspect entered a nearby apartment but fled through a window upon learning police had been alerted. A police dog traced the man’s path and located him in nearby terrain roughly 900 metres away. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Authorities are investigating the case as aggravated drunk driving, assault, and endangering traffic safety. The suspect’s identity has not been disclosed.