A local taxi cab driver was attacked and his taxi stolen on North Avenue in Gainesville Tuesday evening, police said.

A white or Hispanic male, described as tall and slender with brown hair and wearing a yellow shirt, allegedly threw the driver of a Latin American Taxi Co. cab out of the car in the 100 block of North Avenue around 6:45 p.m. before driving off in the taxi.

"The taxi driver stated he was transporting a male passenger when the passenger told him to stop," said Kevin Holbrook, public information officer for the Gainesville Police Department. "At that point he attacked the cab driver while demanding money and searching his pockets."

Police don't believe the suspect had any weapons and are treating the case as a robbery by force and battery.

"The driver was thrown to the ground out of the taxi," Holbrook said.

The driver received minor injuries including scratches to his face, arms and hands.

The taxi was found in south Gainesville soon after the incident and was brought back to the police department to be processed for evidence. Officers and a K-9 unit searched the area but weren't able to find the suspect, Holbrook said.