Man, 19, arrested in attacks on bus driver, passenger

Police have arrested a Surrey man believed to be responsible for two attacks on transit buses.

Police went public Wednesday with violent attacks on a driver and on a passenger on Coast Mountain buses that they believed were committed by the same suspect.

Just after midnight Thursday, Langley and Surrey RCMP arrested a 19-year-old man at a home in Surrey.

He is in custody awaiting a court appearance. Charges have not yet been laid.

Don Macleod, president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 111, which represents Coast Mountain bus drivers, said the union is pleased with the swift arrest.

“Bus drivers and our passengers were extremely anxious that a possible serial attacker was riding the system and that another assault could have proved even more serious,” Macleod said in a statement.

“This quick action by RCMP and Transit Police in determining the likely assailant and making an arrest is greatly appreciated by everyone on the buses.”

The suspect was identified after investigators viewed Translink surveillance footage, police said.

The first attack occurred Feb. 18 when a rider choked a driver on a No. 321 bus southbound to White Rock after he was asked not to stand too close to the front windshield.

The second attack happened on an Aldergrove bus at about 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday. A 41-year-old man was stabbed without warning while getting off the bus at a stop near the Aldergrove Centre Mall. He was taken to hospital and is expected to recover.

In both instances the assailant was acting strangely before the attacks and fled immediately afterwards.

Bus drivers were assaulted 146 times last year in Metro Vancouver, a 21-per-cent increase from 2010.

Eight driver assaults have been recorded in the area so far this year.