A New Westminster man is behind bars after he allegedly assaulted a bus driver in Vancouver.
The alleged attack took place on May 7 aboard a bus travelling south on Commercial Drive. Around 7:15 a.m., the bus stopped on the north side of East Broadway to let passengers off before heading south once again. As the bus was headed down the street, a man seated near the front walked up beside the driver and punched him in the arm, grazing his face, noted a press release from Transit Police.
The man demanded the driver stop the bus, which the driver did, and the alleged assailant got off the bus and headed towards the Broadway and Commercial SkyTrain station.
Transit Police were called, and they eventually located the suspect at Columbia SkyTrain station. After a brief struggle, police arrested the man and took him into custody, where he remains at this time, according to the release.
Charged with assault is 36-year-old New West resident Merle Henry Alexander. He is known to police.
Last month, 32 assaults against bus drivers were reported.
Alexander was scheduled to return to Vancouver provincial court on Thursday.
