Unruly Passenger Pepper Sprays Bus Driver in Face

The man was allegedly harassing other passengers, and was ordered off the bus by the driver

San Diego police are working to identify a man accused of pepper spraying a bus driver in the face after the driver ordered him off the bus.

According to investigators, the incident happened on Oct. 23 just before 5 p.m. aboard San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus #2915.

An unknown man boarded the bus at 1900 Cable Street in Ocean Beach. Officials said the man sat in the back of the bus and allegedly began harassing passengers seated nearby.

When the bus stopped at 200 W. Broadway, the driver ordered the unruly passenger off the bus.

Officials said that’s when the suspect confronted the bus driver and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. He then exited the bus and fled the scene on foot.

The MTS driver sustained minor injuries to his face and eyes and was taken to an urgent care facility. No passengers were injured, officials said.

Now, investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the unknown man, who’s wanted for unlawful use of a chemical agent.

Officials said several images of the man were captured on surveillance video. Two video clips of the suspect on the bus can also be seen below. The first clip shows the suspect being asked to get off the bus and pepper spraying the driver in the face. The second clip shows the man boarding the bus in Ocean Beach.

Police describe the suspect as a white male between 40-50 years old, approximately 6-feet-tall, with a medium build. He was wearing a black, Halloween-themed T-shirt with an image of an orange jack-o-lantern on the front, black pants, a black cap and neon green sunglasses.

Anyone with information on this suspect and case should contact the San Diego Police Department Central Division at (619) 744-9500 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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