KC bus driver whose assault was caught on video back at work; alleged attacker behind bars

Identity assault suspect expected soon

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Posted: 10/05/2012

By: Mitch Weber

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus driver whose assault was caught on video is back to work, and his alleged attacker is behind bars.

Kansas City, Mo., Police Chief Darryl Forte announced through his Twitter account early Friday evening that officers made an arrest in the case. He said the case is expected to go to the Jackson County Prosecutor's office on Saturday.

Police started investigating on Monday after bus passengers called 911. Surveillance video from different cameras caught the assault in detail. A group of five young men are getting off the bus, when one of them sucker punches the driver in the face.

RELATED | Video shows assault of KC bus driver http://bit.ly/Px2bDv

Mark Huffer, KCATA general manager, first saw the video on Tuesday.

"Our understanding is the youth that were in that video did not pay their fare," he said.

The bus driver went back to work on Thursday, but Huffer said the driver even wanted to continue his route right after the assault.

"The operator was a little bit dazed, as you can imagine, and really wanted to continue his route," he explained. "Some of the passengers actually said 'No, you need to stop. You can't go on, we've got to get you help.'"

Ninety percent of the buses have at least eight cameras inside and out. The newer units can hold up to three weeks' worth of video, and some even record audio.

"I'm assuming that youth that assaulted our operator Monday never gave thought to cameras being on the bus," Huffer said.

This is the first time Police are using the KCATA video records to investigate an assault of a metro member. The identity of the suspect should be released sometime this weekend once charges are filed.

We will continue to follow this developing case. Stay with kshb.com for updates.