Officer convicted for 2015 racially-motivated attack on Uber driver

  • Michael C. Doherty, 43, was convicted for a racially motivated attack on a driver
  • Doherty yelled a racial epithet to Uber driver, Luis Blanco, 28, before attacking him in January 2015
  • The officer has been suspended without pay since his indictment in April 2015
  • Boston police commissioner William B. Evans said Monday the decision ‘sends a strong and definitive message that police officers are not above the law’
  • Evans said the veteran cop will have to answer to his actions like other criminals 
  • Doherty is scheduled to be sentenced in April 

A jury has convicted a veteran police officer of a racially-motivated assault of a man working as an Uber driver.

Michael C. Doherty, 43, is convicted on multiple charges including assault and battery after yelling a racial epithet to driver Luis Blanco, 28, in January 2015. 

He told Blanco that they were in the wrong location before striking and chasing the victim around the car.

He then stole the vehicle and drove off until a second Uber driver and the victim chased him down. 

 

A jury found Boston police officer Michael Doherty guilty Monday of a racially-motivated assault on an Uber driver. He is pictured in court last Wednesday

Doherty, a 16-year veteran of the police force, was accused of attacking 28-year-old Luis Blanco while Blanco drove him home on January 4, 2015

Doherty, a 16-year veteran of the police force, was accused of attacking 28-year-old Luis Blanco while Blanco drove him home on January 4, 2015

He used racial and ethnic slurs again during a second physical confrontation.

Doherty fled the scene before police arrived and later surrendered to the Boston Police.

Doherty has been suspended without pay since his indictment in April 2015.

Boston police commissioner William B. Evans said in a Monday statement the decision ‘sends a strong and definitive message that police officers are not above the law.’

Victim Blanco is pictured above in court last Wednesday. He testified about the 2015 attack

Victim Blanco is pictured above in court last Wednesday. He testified about the 2015 attack

Evans said officers too ‘must answer for their actions should they choose to behave in a way that places the public in danger, whether they are on duty or off.

‘As I have said before, I hold my officers to a very high standard, and I believe any actions that undermine the public’s trust should have appropriate consequences.’

Doherty was an off-duty Boston police officer when he took an Uber ride to South Boston.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley called Doherty’s action a slap in the face to ‘countless police officers.’ 

Doherty’s sentencing is scheduled for April.

 

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