The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
Early in the afternoon on December 13, a man was riding on an MTA bus in Queens, when he approached the driver and said he realized he was on the wrong bus. He made a request to be dropped off at a spot on the side of the road, but it was not a marked bus stop. It was reported that the driver was trying to find a safe place to allow the man to deboard, but the 33-year-old rider was allegedly unsatisfied and threatened to physically harm him. The passenger then reportedly struck the driver in the face and started spitting on him.
When the 58-year-old bus driver got up to confront him, the man allegedly punched him multiple times. The operator had a sharp object believed to be a knife, and he reportedly stabbed the passenger in his head and his leg.
The bus driver was accused of preliminary charges of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The passenger, who the police recognized as a ““known transit offender recidivist,” is facing preliminary charges of second-degree harassment, second-degree assault, and third-degree assault.
It was reported that the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office reviewed the details of the case, including surveillance video, and they decided not to pursue charges against the driver, whom they believe acted in self-defense.
Before he was jailed, the passenger was taken to Kings County Hospital where his injuries were treated, and it was reported that he is in stable condition.
If you or someone you love is suspected of an assault or battery offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.