By: Richard L. Smith
A New Jersey Transit bus driver was arrested after a violent assault on a passenger, which occurred after the driver was reportedly first assaulted by the same individual.
The driver, Mr. Toron Walker, was arrested on Friday, August 16, after a violent altercation with a passenger that left dozens of commuters shocked and horrified on the bus.
The incident, captured on video by passengers, shows the bus driver repeatedly punching, choking, and slamming the unidentified passenger, who lay helplessly on the front right row of chairs before being slammed to the floor of the bus.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, the altercation began around 1 p.m. on Court Street near Broad Street after the passenger reportedly spat on the bus driver.
Several police officers responded to the scene, finding Walker and the passenger still engaged in the fight.
The video footage shows the two men exchanging heated words about the spitting incident before the situation escalated into violence.
Despite the severity of the beating, no life-threatening injuries were immediately reported by police for the victim.
Walker has been charged with aggravated assault and was taken into custody shortly after police arrived, Director Frage said.
The incident remains under investigation by local authorities. 