July 6, 2012

A 45-year-old man was sentenced to 70 days in jail for assaulting a TTC bus driver and damaging the bus.

On April 15, a male was advised that the bus was out of service. The Operator was spat upon twice, and the man grabbed the emergency phone, pulling the wires out, and used the phone to smash both headlights on the bus. He was arrested by members of Toronto Police Services 23 Division, and charged with assault and mischief.

In June, Alton Jackson, 45, was found guilty on all charges. On July 4, Jackson was sentenced to 70 days in jail (pre-sentence custody) and placed on probation for two years.  The probation includes a ban from riding the TTC between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to stay away from the victim.
In this case, the assault was captured on the security cameras, which are on all TTC buses and streetcars, as well as on the new Toronto Rocket subway cars.

On average, two TTC employees are assaulted every day, ranging from punching, slapping and spitting, to threats of physical harm or death. The TTC’s Court Advocates work with Crown Attorneys and the Courts to secure the stiffest penalties possible for those convicted of assault on TTC employees, and continue to seek limits on the use of public transit in Toronto for those convicted of these crimes.

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