Warning: Video below contains some strong language and may be disturbing to some viewers
A teenager has been charged with assault following a reported argument between a passenger and driver on a Davenport Citibus.
The incident happened Tuesday, September 15, 2015 in the 5200 block of Ripley Street. According to a statement from the Davenport School District, students were boarding the bus when the driver and a passenger got into an argument about the Citibus' fare policy.
A 15-year-old boy assaulted the driver and has been charged with assault causing bodily injury, according to a statement from the City of Davenport. The teen was charged in the juvenile court system and will be banned from riding Citibus in the future.
Video released Friday, September 18, 2015 shows the alleged incident. At the beginning of the video, multiple passengers can be seen getting onto the bus. The driver then stops one passenger who did not display an ID and makes him pay. Shortly after, another passenger tries to board, showing an ID with no sticker. The driver originally made him get off the bus, but then seconds later allows him to ride for free.
"I'll let you [inaudible], but you better have a sticker tomorrow or you'll have to pay," the driver is heard saying to the passenger on the video.
Once the last passenger boards, the driver can then be seen turning around to address something said among the passengers.
"How is that racist ? You have no ID whatsoever," the driver says in what seems to be an argument with another passenger. "He has an ID, he has no sticker... He has an ID."
"But you still made me pay," said a passenger from the bus.
As the back-and-forth continues, the driver says "if you want to get lippy, you can get off the bus."
The passenger is then heard threatening to "punch" the driver as he exits the bus.
"Really? Fine. Get off my bus now. Lay your hand on me..." the driver is heard saying.
A passenger can then be seen striking the driver as he gets off the bus.
The driver was taken to the hospital and was released later that evening, according to the city's statement. The driver returned to work two days after the incident.
Extra adult supervision has been added to the bus route since the incident happened, according to a statement from the city; it is being called an "isolated incident."
The City of Davenport and the Davenport School District have been working together to curb problems on the community's public transit, the statement said.
In June of 2015, the school district responded to complaints made by passengers about students riding the Davenport Citibus. A rule was put in place that required parents to request a Citibus pass for their students before they could ride the bus.
