NEW YORK — Police are searching for a woman accused of beating an MTA bus operator with her purse in Brooklyn last week.
It happened just before 8 p.m. on Monday, May 19, in front of 1952 Coney Island Ave. in Midwood. An on-duty 55-year-old MTA employee was driving a southbound B68 bus when she engaged in a verbal dispute with the suspect, authorities said.
According to officials, the suspect became irate and struck the victim with her purse in the face multiple times before fleeing the location on foot in an unknown direction.
The victim suffered minor injuries. She was treated at the scene by EMS.
According to authorities, the incident occurred near the intersection of [insert location if available] when the woman, reportedly agitated over a service-related issue, struck the bus operator multiple times with her purse. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with several passengers left stunned by the sudden outburst.
The bus driver sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. MTA officials have condemned the attack and are cooperating with NYPD in the ongoing investigation. Surveillance footage from the bus has been turned over to law enforcement.
“This kind of violence against our transit workers is absolutely unacceptable,” said an MTA spokesperson. “Our operators work hard every day to keep New York moving and deserve to do so in safety.”
The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended by police. Charges are pending and may include assault and harassment.
Transit advocates and local leaders are renewing calls for increased protections for MTA employees, including the installation of protective barriers and enhanced penalties for assaults on public transit workers.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
