L.A. Metro driver assault suspect arrested
Anthony Gamez was taken into custody on an Orange Line bus after the on-duty bus operator recognized him from photographs displayed on a “wanted” poster distributed earlier in the day.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced the arrest of a man wanted in connection with the assault on a transit bus operator last Friday.
The suspect, Anthony Gamez, 24, was taken into custody on an Orange Line bus after the on-duty bus operator recognized Gamez from photographs displayed on a “wanted” poster distributed earlier in the day.
One of the reasons the operator identified the suspect was because he was apparently wearing the same clothing depicted in surveillance photos from Friday’s incident. The driver called the dispatch center and deputies from the Transit Services Bureau made the arrest. Sheriff’s detectives will be seeking Felony Battery charges.
The assault occurred Friday about 7:35 p.m. as the operator of the bus stopped at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The patron engaged in a fare dispute with the operator and attacked the driver, knocking him unconscious. The injured operator was transported to a hospital and subsequently released.
Gamez is also being investigated in connection with another assault on a bus operator that occurred following Friday’s incident.
RELATED ARTICLE: Check out, "Transit systems coping with spike in violence against bus drivers."
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