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Police search for woman who ripped off LA Metro bus driver’s glasses

After another attack on a Los Angeles Metro bus driver, police are searching for a woman who ripped glasses off a bus driver’s face in downtown on Monday.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a woman boarded the bus shortly before 10 a.m. when it stopped in the area of ​​Temple Street and Springs Street.


“A female suspect entered the bus in an aggressive manner and began arguing with the bus driver,” the LAPD said in a press release. “During the altercation, the female suspect forcibly removed the bus driver’s glasses and exited the bus.”

When the bus driver followed the woman outside to pick up her glasses, a second altercation occurred, but authorities did not release further details.

The bus driver was able to recover her glasses, but police said they were broken and the driver suffered a minor facial injury in the collision.

Woman rips LA Metro bus driver's glasses off
Police are asking the public for help in identifying and locating the suspect photographed here on May 27, 2024. (LAPD)

The suspect, described by police as a white woman, approximately 30 years old, approximately 5’8″ tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, fled the scene.

This attack followed a series of violent attacks on subway operators and passengers, including the stabbing of a grandmother and the shooting of another man. A Metro board member subsequently said she was “scared” and would not use the subway alone.

The subway operators, in turn, held a “sick demonstration” to draw attention to the increasing violence in local transport and called for better security measures.

The Metro board, which includes LA Mayor Karen Bass, has now approved the deployment of additional police and security officers to monitor public transportation.

In response to this latest attack, Metro representatives issued the following statement to KTLA:

“Metro is angry that once again a member of our community has chosen to attack and steal from one of our most important bus drivers. Our employees have a right to a safe workplace and our customers have a right to a safe ride, and we are stepping up our work to prevent crime on our system.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call LAPD Central Division Robbery Detective Arrieta at 213-996-1868. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers tip line at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.