Over the weekend in Southie, in the wee hours of Sunday morning – at about 2:45am – a beef erupted between an Uber driver and a South Boston resident.  According to BPD News, Michael C. Doherty – a 16 year veteran of the Boston Police Department, was arrested and charged after he allegedly beat an Uber driver and then drove off in his car.  

Doherty, who was off duty at the time of the incident, also allegedly shouted racial epithets at the driver who is Hispanic and a man who stopped to help who is black.  

According to BPD news:
At about 2:45am, on Sunday, January 4, 2015, officers from District C-6 (South Boston) responded to a call for a ride share driver stating that he had been assaulted by a passenger in the area of E. 1st Street and Farragut Road in South Boston. On arrival, officers spoke to the victim, an Uber driver, who stated that he was in the process of dropping a passenger off in the area of E. 2nd Street in South Boston when the passenger began yelling at him and accusing him of trying to drop him off at the wrong location. Victim further states that the suspect physically assaulted him when he stopped his vehicle in the area of E. 2nd and M Streets. In an effort to escape the suspect, the victim states that he exited his vehicle. Once outside the vehicle, the victim states that he watched as the suspect got into the front seat of his car and drove off. The victim, who was aided by a passing motorist, followed the victim to E. 1st Street and Farragut Road where the suspect stopped and exited the victim’s car. The suspect fled the area before police arrived. The suspect was later identified, located and placed under arrest.
Officers arrested Michael Doherty, 40, of South Boston and charged him with Assault & Battery and Using a Motor Vehicle without Authority.
Doherty, a 16 year-veteran of the Boston Police Department, has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the charges filed against him.
The Boston Police Anti-Corruption Unit is actively reviewing facts and circumstance surrounding this incident.
In addition to being charged with assault and battery, Doherty has been place on administrative leave and Uber has banned him for life.  

This story was originally reported first by The Weekly Dig.  You should read it – it’s very colorful!