Saskatoon police looking for cab driver who helped woman escape alleged abduction, sexual assault

Investigators are looking for a cab driver who helped a woman get away after she was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at a Saskatoon home.

According to police, a 26-year-old woman from Melfort, Sask. was walking along Highway 5, east of Saskatoon, around 4 p.m. Monday.  She was then reportedly picked up by five men who were driving by in a truck.

Police said she was then taken to a home somewhere on the east side and sexually assaulted before escaping several hours later.

The woman reportedly hailed a cab, which took her to a convenience store in the 1500 block of 22nd Street where she called police.

Investigators are still trying to determine where she was being held.

“She’s not that familiar with the city, so we are attempting to identify that location, but haven’t at this time,” said Saskatoon police spokeswoman Kelsie Fraser.

“We’re trying to identify the cab driver that did pick her up and hopefully we’ll be able to work our way backwards from there.”

Sgt. Earl LeBlanc said RCMP in Tisdale received the initial call from a family member of the alleged victim.

“The family member then in turn called us. We realized the individual was in Saskatoon, we passed on the information to the police service,” LeBlanc said.

Saskatoon police investigators searched for the woman, but did not track her down until officers were called at around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, after the woman had escaped.

There have not been any arrests and the search continues for the suspects.

The men are described as possibly being Middle Eastern in appearance and driving a black Dodge truck.

The driver is described as being around 35 to 40 years old, with a short beard and dark hair with a buzz cut.

He reportedly has a thicker build and was wearing a black dress jacket, jeans and tan-coloured Timberland boots.

The second passenger is described as a taller man, between 25 and 30 years old, with a skinny build and a beard.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Saskatoon Police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.