Fare evader arrested in assault of MBTA driver: Police

A man refusing to pay his fare spit on anMBTA bus driver before leading police on a lengthy pursuit, cops said.

Jorge Diaz-Vasquez, 44, of Boston, boarded a bus at about 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, but refused to pay his way, according to authorities. When the driver tried to get him to provide the fare, he “spat upon the bus operator striking her and then fled the area.”

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Police soon found Diaz-Vasquez at the Dudley MBTA station. As they approached him, he pushed a shopping cart at the officers and escaped. After a long pursuit, they apprehended Diaz-Vasquez and placed him took into custody on various assault charges.

Diaz-Vasquez already had several warrants out for his arrest issued from Charlestown District Court for violation of the Commonwealth’s Drug Laws, police said.