Beating on Bus: Police Take Man Into Custody
[UPDATE, 1:10 p.m., April 21] Police said one person is in custody Thursday in connection with the beating of an autistic man on a bus.
The beating on a San Bernardino city bus was captured on surveillance video. The suspect beat an autistic man riding on the bus one week ago last Sunday without provocation, police said Tuesday night.
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[ORIGINAL ARTICLE, Posted 11:08 p.m., April 19]
Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10, the suspect boarded an OnmiTrans bus near 15th Street and Medical Center Drive. The suspect attacked a man who was sitting near the front of the bus on the aisle, repeatedly hitting and kicking him in the head.
The video shows the suspect, clad in a plaid shirt. light-colored jacket, baseball cap and dark pants, walking past the passenger. The suspect turned, said something to the passenger, and then punched him in the head, causing the passenger to fall over and grab his head.
The injured man then stumbled to his feet and staggered off the bus with the suspect close behind him, punching the passenger repeatedly in the head and forcing him off the bus. The injured man can be heard on the video yelling in pain, saying "No! No!".
The suspect then yelled at the injured man, "Get your ass out of here!" before turning to the driver and saying "Let's go baby."
The injured man lingered for a moment outside the bus. The suspect exited the bus, chased the injured man away and then re-boarded.
San Bernardino detectives said the developmentally disabled man had been quietly talking to himself right before the attack. The man who was attacked was not bothering anyone, other passengers and the bus driver told investigators.
The victim, who suffered several injuries, was not identified by authorities.
The suspect was described a black male adult, approximately 35-40 years old, 5 feet 7 inches and 190 pounds, wearing a black baseball hat with "IE" lettering.
Police are looking for anyone who knows the suspect. Anyone with information on this case or the identity of this suspect is urged to call Detective Ernie Antillon or Officer Melissa Flint at 909-384-5637.
