Top End crime news: Darwin Police arrest man who allegedly punched taxi driver in head

A man has been arrested after he allegedly punched a taxi driver in the back of the head | Assault suspected after injured man with internal bleeding seeks medical help. Read more Top End crime news.

NT Police. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

September 20: A man has been arrested after he allegedly punched a taxi driver in the back of the head over fare prices.

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said the 22-year-old man was allegedly refused service at a Leanyer bottle shop at 6.53pm on Thursday.

Sergeant Rankin said the man made his way to a taxi, where he argued with the 48-year-old driver before allegedly punching them.

He said the driver suffered “swelling and soreness” after the alleged attack.

Sergeant Rankin said the man was arrested and had since been charged in relation to the incident.

In a separate matter, Sergeant Rankin said a 49-year-old Wadeye man presented to the local clinic saying he had been assaulted two days earlier.

He said the man had lacerations on his face and head, and had collapsed shortly before making the decision to attend the clinic.

Sergeant Rankin said the assault had not been reported to police.

He said the man collapsed again 50 minutes after arriving at the clinic and initial assessments suggested he was suffering from internal bleeding.

Sergeant Rankin said the man was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital with the help of CareFlight and police continued to investigate the incident.

Originally published as Top End crime news: Darwin Police arrest man who allegedly punched taxi driver in head