Investigators with the Metro Transit Police Department are searching for a passenger accused of repeatedly punching a Metrobus driver in Montgomery County, Maryland, earlier this month.
WMATA told WTOP that the incident happened Aug. 1 after the driver told a man he could not bring an open alcoholic beverage on the bus.
“Preliminary information shows the operator told the adult male suspect he could not bring an open alcoholic beverage on board,” a WMATA spokesperson said. It was then that the person “assaulted the operator after being asked to step behind the yellow line.”
WMATA said the Metrobus driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated after the attack.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents about 8,000 transit workers across the D.C. region, posted video of the incident on social media.
The video shows a verbal exchange between the driver and a passenger before the rider reaches around the driver’s protective shield and punches him multiple times.
In a statement, the union said the partial shield “did nothing” to protect the driver.
The incident remains under investigation. Metro said it is continuing efforts to equip buses with full protective shields.
The video below contains violent content. Viewer discretion is advised.
See it on ATU Local 689’s X page.
WTOP has reached out to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 for additional information.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect additional details provided by WMATA.
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