Another Metro bus driver reportedly attacked in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES - An investigation is underway after another Metro bus driver was reportedly attacked while on the job Monday.
It happened around 9:50 a.m. on a bus traveling southbound on Spring just south of Temple in downtown LA.
According to authorities, while the bus was stopped, a woman aggressively entered the bus and began arguing with the bus operator. During the altercation, the suspect forcefully removed the driver's prescription glasses and exited the bus. Police say the bus driver followed the suspect in an attempt to retrieve her glasses. However, that led to a second altercation.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the bus operator got her glasses back, but she suffered minor injuries to her face during the attack.
The suspect fled the area.
Image of suspect in downtown LA Metro robbery, attack provided by LAPD
The bus driver reportedly recognized the woman as a person who previously failed to pay her bus fare. The driver then closed the bus doors, accidentally trapping the woman's arm… which angered her.
The LAPD released a picture of the suspect in hopes someone can identify her. The suspect is described as a 30-year-old woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5 feet 8 inches and weighs about 180 pounds.
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Metro released the following statement in response to the attack:
"Metro is angered that yet again a member of our community chose to assault one of our essential bus operators. Our employees deserve a safe workplace, and our customers deserve a safe ride, and we are accelerating our work to prevent crime on our system. But we need your help: we ask that anyone with information about this crime help the LAPD apprehend the assailant by calling the LA Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-TIPS or 800-222-8477."
This is the latest in a string of attacks on Metro bus drivers in recent months. Earlier this month, LA Mayor and Metro Board Chair Karen Bass called for an immediate surge of law enforcement personnel across the transit system.
Following several violent incidents involving operators, Metro’s Board of Directors approved the installation of protective barriers for drivers on roughly 2,000 buses.
The agency’s entire fleet is expected to be fitted with the new barriers by the end of the year.
Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact LAPD Central Division Robbery Section, Detective Arrieta at (213) 996-1868. You can remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.