Police release video of bus attack

Police need your help to find a bus passenger responsible for a violent attack on a Capital Metro bus driver.

The attack happened Friday around eleven a.m. at a bus stop in the 6000 Block of Techni Center Drive.

Police say the man waited until all the other passengers were off the bus, committed the attack, then took off running west toward some nearby apartments. 

The bus driver's injuries to his face were so severe he had to go to the hospital.

Thee attack lasted about 5 minutes.

 "We think this is an isolated incident but definitely something that concerns us with the shear brutality of it," said APD Sgt. Brian Miller.

 Police edited surveillance video shows the man getting on the bus at Congress Avenue, move from the back to the front, then officers say he got into an argument with the driver.

 "It looks like the verbal disagreement stemmed from the fact that the bus driver didn't stop originally when the suspect was trying to get out of the bus on Congress Avenue," said Sgt. Miller.

 Then suddenly and violently the man repeatedly punches the driver with his fists, stops, then does it again.  

"He got off the bus a few times then got back on so that's the very disturbing part of it," said Sgt. Miller.

 After the attack police say the rider pulled the driver of his seat to the floor and went through his pockets to rob him.

 "Should be on every operator's mind, what if," said Capital Metro bus driver Mike  Calvery.

Calvery has been with Cap Metro for four years.  He greets every passenger and watches body language.  He also uses Cap Metro training on how to diffuse a situation, when not to engage with a passenger and when to call for help.

 "We never take chances as much as possible," said Calvery.

 Bus rider Patrick Jones moved to Austin from Chicago a year ago.

 "Coming here I thought I wouldn't see anything like that but it is shocking," said Jones.

 He's seen passengers get agitated on the bus but never thought a disagreement could turn so violent.

 "It just makes me open my eyes more.  Being more cautious about who gets on and off the bus," said Jones.
The driver is now out of the hospital.  His employer Veolia Transportation which contracts with Cap Metro is offering a $5000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.