Transit police identify suspects in bus beating

Seat dispute led to victim allegedly having her head slammed on a rail and her life threatened

Transit police say they’ve identified two suspects believed to have been involved in the brutal attack of a woman on a Surrey bus last week.

Transit police spokeswoman Anne Drennan said Tuesday that authorities had received dozens of tips from the public since releasing the images of the alleged suspects, who police believe are husband and wife.

“As a result, we’ve identified two suspects,” she said. “It’s a very active investigation.”

No arrests have been made yet and Drennan said no further updates would be provided until today.

On March 20, a 61-year-old woman boarded a bus at Surrey Central and sat down next to a second woman who allegedly pushed her out of the seat. The second woman said she had been saving the seat for her husband. The husband then sat down in the empty seat as the victim got up and sat behind the couple.

When the victim attempted to take a photograph of the two suspects, the woman is alleged to have grabbed the phone and thrown it before grabbing the victim “by the hair” and “striking her head and chest on the metal handrail repeatedly while threatening to kill her,” according to police.

The couple then left the bus with the victim’s phone, before throwing it on the ground. The victim was taken to hospital for a broken arm, a cracked sternum and minor head trauma.

The fact that this woman would be knocked to the floor initially because she was sitting in the seat ... it’s just disgusting.

“The fact that this woman would be knocked to the floor initially because she was sitting in the seat that the other woman was saving for her husband when he could’ve easily sat somewhere else — it’s just disgusting,” Drennan had said earlier this week.

Police released images of the suspect couple, in hopes the public could help identify the pair.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects or who has information about the assault should call Metro Vancouver Transit police at 604516-7419 and refer to file #18-5346. Tips can also be texted to 87 77 77.

Transit police are seeking a pair of suspects involved in an assault on board a 96B bus that took place around 6:30 p.m. on March 20 in Surrey. No arrests have been made yet, but the “very active investigation” has been helped by dozens of tips from...