The West Shore RCMP are praising a local taxi driver who went the extra mile to ensure an intoxicated youth made it home safe and sound.
Mounties presented Verrinder Bharmota, a taxi driver on the West Shore, with a Certificate of Appreciation on July 29 “for his act of kindness during a police call for service,” according to RCMP.
It was on June 13 when police officers in Langford were called to a report of two intoxicated youths, a male and a female, wandering in and out of traffic on Jacklin Road. Once on scene, the officers determined that the youths needed to be transported back to their guardians.
While police drove the male back to his guardian, the female began “suffering from an anxiety attack,” said RCMP in a news release.
“After being assessed and cleared by BC Emergency Health Services, it was determined her condition was exacerbated by police and paramedic presence.”
That’s when one West Shore RCMP officer, Const. Renner, called for a taxi to drive the female home.
Then it was Bharmota to the rescue, at no charge.
“The youth had no money to pay for the taxi and I offered to pay for it myself, but when Mr. Bharmota, the taxi driver, found out why we had called for a taxi in the first place, he was very kind and compassionate with the youth and refused to charge for the ride,” said Renner in the release.
It took Bharmota and paramedics about 10-15 minutes to load the female into the taxi before she was driven home.
Once at the destination, Bharmota also helped the female get safely into her home “while (Renner) followed in his police car to make sure her guardian was able to care for her,” said RCMP.
“Mr. Bharmota really did go above and beyond as police had very few options of getting the youth home without triggering another stress-induced anxiety attack,” added RCMP. “We wanted to thank Mr. Bharmota for his kindness and helping West Shore RCMP this night.”
Ethan Morneau
