Naked taxi driver sentenced to coercive medical treatment

A court of Moscow sentenced Vitaly Grodik, a native of Moldova, to coercive medical treatment. Several months ago, Grodik rammed into 17 cars, including 4 police vehicles. The man was driving his car stark naked when he committed the crime.

Grodik was working as a taxi cab driver at Cruise Taxi. In the morning of October 30, 2011, Grodik, a native of Moldova (born in 1970), was driving a Renault Megane. He drove to the square of the Kievsky Railway Station despite the prohibitive sign. The police officers, who were on duty on the square, tried to stop the car. However, the driver attempted to escape.

The police officers began to chase the perpetrator. However, Grodik was ignoring their requirements to pull over. He was ramming his Renault Megane into other cars and removing his clothes at the same time. The damage from the car accidents totaled more than 2 million rubles ($67,000), BaltInfo said.

Grodik was stark naked when it finally became possible to stop his car. The driver showed resistance to the police officers and asked them not to cover him with anything. He was yelling "God, save and protect me" and singing Russia's national anthem.

It became known some time later that the driver was absolutely sober. He did not take any drugs either, officials said. Grodik told the police officers that he was "flying on the wings of love" but was disturbed by "demons." Medics concluded that the citizen of Moldova had a mental disorder.

The court ruled to send the driver to a mental institution where he would coercively receive medical treatment.