Police are praising the actions of witnesses after another city bus driver was assaulted yesterday morning.
Just before 9:30 a.m. two teenage boys got on a bus at the Coliseum station and started to have a discussion with the driver about fares.
The discussion quickly escalated and the driver was sprayed in the face with pepper spray. The two teens fled on foot.
Two suspects were found shortly after thanks to the information police were able to gather off witnesses.
“One of the things that played an integral factor in the arrest today was the quality witness information as well as the information provided by the bus driver,” said police spokesperson Karen Carlson. “We’ve had other incidents where witnesses don’t stick around long enough to provide good information to our officers.”
A 14-year-old boy was charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, as well as several breaches of condition. A 15-year-old was charged with breach of conditions unrelated to the incident.
Yesterday’s assault comes just three weeks after another bus driver, Tom Bregg, was attacked while driving on Dec. 3. Bregg remains in an intensive care unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Gary Edwin Mattson, 24, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and assaulting a peace officer in relation to that attack.
