pavan chohan › other police matters › april › deadmonton 2007 › deadmonton › edmonton

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On the evening of April 6th, 2007 a man and some of his friends were walking near 42nd Avenue and 38th Street at about 10:00 p.m. when they came across an injured man lying on the sidewalk.

"He wasn't responding, just gurgling blood," said the man in his 20s. "We turned him on his side."

Nearby, an empty Co-op cab was running.

Police and emergency medical personnel arrived and quickly determined the 61-year-old man was the cab's driver and he had been beaten by his fare.

The cabbie was taken to University of Alberta Hospital with severe life-threatening head injuries.

Investigators said a suspect fled the scene, but within 35 minutes of officers arriving a man approached one of the police cars and got into the back seat.

"We did locate a male in the area who had blood on his hands."

"We have arrested him and he is now in custody pending further investigation," Sgt. Toba Brownell told media cameras at the time.

"A canine unit established a track from the cab which led to the police car that the suspect entered, confirming that he was the male they were looking for."

By the next afternoon police had charged a 24-year-old man.

"We do have a subject in custody that will be charged with aggravated assault at this time," acting Insp. Stewart Callioux said.

"But until we talk to the cab driver and hear from him what exacty happened we're not entirely sure what events unfolded."

Police confirmed that no weapons were used in the assault.

Family members of the cabbie were too traumatised to speak to media. His injuries were so severe his wife didn't recognise him.

Further charges could be added, and possibly a search for other suspects could take place, once police are able to speak to the man who remains in critical condition in a medically-induced coma in the hospital's intensive care unit.

"Right now, the only person's story they have is the accused," a police spokesman said.

A representative of Co-op Taxi said the driver had just dropped off a passenger and was probably flagged down on the street by the fare that attacked him.

"I can confirm he wasn't dispatched to the second fare," the man said.

The cab's computer showed a two-minute gap between the drop-off and the next pickup. The cab was found using its global positioning system, a device police said likely saved the driver's life.

The cabbie had over six years' experience, "so he wasn't a rookie," the Co-op representative said.

It was later learned the dog track led from the cab, to a house, and then to the police car where the man was sitting.

Unknown to police at the time, Stephanie Rae Butler lay dead inside her house. Her body was discovered by her father the next day when Stephanie's husband Michael asked the man to check on her welfare.

Kenneth Anthony Butler, 24, was charged with aggravated assault for his attack on the cab driver.

Butler was identified as the prime suspect in connection with Stephanie's death and may face charges of murder, break and enter, and breach of recognizance.

It was several days before the identity of the cab driver became known.

Pavan Chohan, a father of three and grandfather of one, was born in India, came to Canada in 1977 and lived in Vancouver before he moved to Edmonton more than 20 years ago.

The Chohan family, private in nature, made a single media appearance to speak of their husband and father.

“He is a big-hearted man. He is hardworking and he doesn’t let the little things in life get to him. He was going to retire soon,” said an immediate family member who asked not to be identified.

"It's a devastating time for our family and we're going through a lot of emotions. He's such a big-hearted man, happy and hard-working. We just don't know why this happened."

“He is a good man and he didn’t deserve this. We really can't do anything now but hope and pray that everything works out,” said the family member.

"Of course we're angry. We're upset. We're confused."

“We pretty much are experiencing every emotion in the book. We are angry. We are upset. We are everything. It is life-changing event for us,” the person said.

On April 6th, 2007 Pavan Chohan had planned to drop off his last fare of the night and was headed home for supper when he was attacked.

Chohan never drove late at night because he didn't think it was safe. He told his family that the fares at that time of the day are usually drunk and unpredictable.

“He usually just drives day time hours. He never works late. In fact, he was on his way home. He called and said he was on his way home. We are not sure what happened after that,” the family member said.

Co-op Taxi spokesman Murray Neate said Chohan had been driving for the company for six or seven years.

"He was an experienced driver, a really good guy. He was a family man just like most of our drivers are family men and women – just out there trying to make a living."

Reports of Chohan's condition varied only slightly in the days after the attack.

He was initially listed in critical condition but was upgraded to serious and stable. At last word he remained in a medically-induced coma.

Police did not comment on a motive for the assault.

On April 10th, 2007 Kenneth Anthony Butler appeared in provincial docket court and was ordered to undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment. He was remanded in custody to the Alberta Hospital.

For further updates concerning Kenneth Anthony Butler, visit the Stephanie Rae Butler page.

On April 19th, 2007 it was learned Pavan Chohan was showing signs of improvement at University of Alberta Hospital.

Chohan was no longer in a coma but had yet to open his eyes or talk since the attack.

An MRI revealed some swelling on Chohan's brain but no other apparent problems.

Chohan continued to be listed in serious but stable condition.

On April 30th and May 1st, 2007 the Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal carried interviews with Chohan's family.

It was reported Chohan came out of his coma but had yet to speak. Medical evidence indicated he sustained a serious brain injury from which he may never fully recover.

Family members said Chohan was unable to move the right side of his body.

“It may come back, it may not,” the relative said of the paralysis. “He's quite confused, but he's hanging in there. He's made quite a bit of progress in the last three weeks.”

“It's going to be a long, long road,” the relative said. “We have to take it one day at a time. We just hope and pray everything's going to turn out OK.”

Chohan continued to be listed in serious but stable condition.

Police too were anxious for the man to recover. Investigators were still trying to piece together events of the attack that may also have included the murder of Stephanie Rae Butler.

“He's just able to tap or nod yes or no,” a police spokesman said. “He's not really in a position yet to be able to talk with police. [Detectives] have been in contact with him and his family.”

The last week of April 2007 saw a dispute arise among local taxi companies over fare pickups by competing drivers.

Allegations arose that Leduc-based Airport Taxi Service, which maintains exclusive rights at the Edmonton International Airport, was picking up fares within city limits. It was also charged that Edmonton-based drivers were stepping on their competitor's turf at the airport.

However, the plight of one of their own brought both sides together with differences set aside in aid of a fundraising dinner planned for either May 13th or 20th at On the Rocks, a Lebanese restaurant at 11740 Jasper Avenue.

A fellow Co-op cabbie said he hoped to raise more than $5,000.

“He was the sole breadwinner in his family, I've been told. I can't imagine he'll ever drive a taxi again,” Jerry Whittaker said. “When you stop making money as a cab driver that's it, it's done. There's no insurance to fill in the gap.”

“It's just something we should do for each other when this happens,” added Whittaker.

“Cab drivers are cab drivers,” he said. “When it comes down to it, we know we have to be there for each other. No one else is going to.”

A collection set up for Chohan saw donations coming from gas station owners and drivers with different cab companies across the city. The Airport Taxi drivers already donated $1,000, Whittaker said.

The Co-op driver last organised a dinner in 2003 when cab driver Nihat Tasci, 39, died in an accident on Calgary Trail. That time the taxi community donated $12,000, including $4,000 from the dinner, to support the driver's family, Whittaker said.

“It affects us all. Sure we're in competition, but they're all drivers,” said Murray Neate, director of sales and marketing for Co-op Taxi. “When somebody gets hurt, we all hurt.”

Neate said the company usually matches whatever is raised. Taxi drivers are considered self-employed and only get what limited benefits and insurance they buy for themselves.

"It's so touching. I don't know what to say," Chohan's daughter said when told of the fundraiser.

Although Chohan's wife worked in the food industry at a hospital, her job didn't pay much and the loss of income was tough, said the daughter.

"They don't put our bills on hold when something like this happens," she said.

The doctors sound positive about Chohan's recovery, she said. "But it's hard when your dad doesn't come home. He's hanging in there, but it's going to be a long recovery."

The attack on Chohan served to rekindle the debate on methods to improve safety for cabbies, with separation shields and onboard cameras suggested.

Plastic shields are currently optional, but some cab operator called for them to be made mandatory.

“Shields aren't the answer. Any shield I've seen is not going to stop a gun,” argued Co-op driver Jerry Whittaker, who favours in-car cameras.

“They need to do something,” added the Chohan family member. “It's getting out of hand.”

deadmonton 2007 - other police matters - pavan chohan