Police search for man who attacked operator – NBC 6 South Florida

Police are searching for the man who attacked a 70-year-old tram driver in St. Petersburg in an altercation recorded on video.

The attack occurred on June 9 after the victim, who asked NBC affiliate WFLA to identify him only as Wally, said an argument broke out over a stroller. Wally is a streetcar driver at the St. Pete Pier.

“I said, ‘I’m taking it to the front where we put the wheelchair,'” Wally said. “He got mad (and said), ‘No, I’m keeping it.'”

In the video, another man can be seen trying to stop the suspect as he approaches Wally.

“The guy came up to me to tell me something, and I grabbed my boss’s business card to give it to him, because if you have a problem with this, you call this guy,” Wally said. “Well, I never got that far.”

The suspect pushed the man away and lunged at Wally.

“I weigh 200 pounds… He picked me up like I was a doll,” the victim said. “He threw me on a chair and then he threw me off the tram and onto the ground… I looked up and there was a circle of people around me.”

St. Petersburg police said Wally suffered minor injuries.

“I was just dazed,” he said. “The adrenaline wore off about an hour later and I realized what you – oh my God, I think I’m hurt.”

On Monday, police released a photo of the man suspected of being responsible in the hope of leading to an arrest.

Meanwhile, Wally is back at work.

“Honestly, it was different for me,” he said. “I wasn’t nervous at all, I was constantly looking over my shoulder… Suddenly I didn’t like my job anymore.”