New York City Police Seek Woman Allegedly Spraying Bus Driver with Unknown Substance
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New York City police are on the lookout for a woman accused of assaulting a Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus driver. Reports indicate that the suspect sprayed an “unknown substance” into the face of a 33-year-old bus driver on a BX-10 MTA bus at Bainbridge Avenue and Van Cortlandt Avenue East in the Bronx around 8:40 a.m. on Monday, May 19. The woman swiftly fled the scene following the attack, leaving the victim in need of medical attention at Montefiore Medical Center in stable condition.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of assaults on MTA employees that occurred in May. Another assault took place on May 13, just before 9 a.m., when a man boarded an MTA bus in Brooklyn and engaged in a verbal dispute with a 71-year-old driver. The assailant brandished a wrench and struck the driver in the forehead, causing minor injuries. The suspect, identified as a Black male in his early 40s, then fled the area on a scooter.
In a separate incident on May 22, a 55-year-old male MTA conductor was punched in the face while poking his head out of the conductor’s window at the 42 Street-Grand Central Station. The series of attacks culminated in a violent encounter on May 29, where a 68-year-old MTA cleaner was targeted by a man wielding a metal pipe at the Bergen Street station in Brooklyn. Fortunately, the cleaner escaped serious harm and was taken to the hospital in a stable condition.
MTA spokesperson Lucas Bejarano expressed outrage over the assaults, stating, “Crime is down overall this year on subways and buses, but any assault on our employees is intolerable.” In a positive development, the New York State legislature recently enacted changes to the law to ensure that perpetrators of attacks on transit workers face the maximum legal consequences.
The NYPD is urging anyone with information about these incidents to come forward and assist in solving these cases. Individuals can contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or visit the Crime Stoppers website to provide tips anonymously. The public’s cooperation is crucial in helping law enforcement bring those responsible for these assaults to justice.
These incidents highlight the risks that MTA employees face while performing their duties and underscore the importance of safeguarding the individuals who provide essential public transportation services. The community’s vigilance and support are essential in maintaining the safety and security of both passengers and transit workers.