Transit driver charged with assault, public mischief

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This article was published 10/02/2016 (2991 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg Transit driver is charged with assault and public mischief after an alleged altercation with a passenger on Wednesday.

Winnipeg police said officers responded to a report of a transit driver having been assaulted at 11 a.m. at Sargent Avenue and Valour Road.

Officers met with the 51-year-old driver who told them she had been involved in a verbal disagreement with a female passenger. The driver said the argument escalated and she was assaulted by the female passenger.

Officers met with the 17-year-old female passenger who told police the physical altercation had been started by the transit driver and the passenger had struck back in self defence.

Police continued the investigation and learned the transit driver had started the physical altercation after having been involved in the argument.

“I believe this incident is unique in nature,” said Const. Eric Hofley. “Fortunately, Transit has equipped their buses with both video and audio equipment that is there to protect not only employees but the general public as well.”

The driver was released on a promise to appear.

John Callahan, the Amalgamated Transit Union president, said he did not have any more information on the incident and could not comment.

“As far as I know, in talks with transit, it’s an ongoing police investigation and I haven’t been briefed on anything,” Callahan said.

Transit drivers assaults have been on the increase. There was a 54 per cent increase in the number of reported assaults on transit drivers between 2014 and 2015, to 60 attacks from 39.

Callahan said it is unusual to hear of a driver allegedly assaulting a passenger.

“I don’t recall anything (like this) in my time but I’ve only been in office here two years. But even beyond that, it’s not the norm, that’s for sure,” Callahan said.

The safety of transit drivers was recently reviewed and the Winnipeg Police Board endorsed a plan to have officers and cadets riding transit buses.

Transit is paying the police service $100,000 to cover the expense of assigning cadets and officers to buses.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca