Records reveal history of Cleveland RTA bus drivers citing assaults with cans, bottles, gunshots

CLEVELAND - An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation reveals a history of Cleveland Regional Transit Authority drivers allegedly assaulted with cans, bottles and even gunshots.

A court will decide who was at fault in a case of involving an RTA driver who was recently caught on video tape punching passenger.

But a review of transit authority police records show 47 alleged assaults on transit drivers over the last three years. They include drivers being punched in the head, spit on and, in one case; gunshots were fired at a bus striking the window. No one was hurt.

Records show 22 reported assaults in 2010, nine in 2011 and 16 reported assaults so far this year.

For example, in January 2012, an RTA driver was allegedly "struck in the face with a book bag.”

In March, another claimed he "was threatened" and "hit with a rock.”

In May, a driver was allegedly "punched four times in the head" and transported to a hospital with a swollen lip and cut nose.

President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 268 William Nix said he is working with RTA and local officials to increase criminal penalties for assaulting transit drivers.

"It's a nightmare," Nix said. "You're in fear that somebody is going to put their hands on you or spit on you or kick you."

RTA said even one assault is too many, but the number of reported assaults is roughly one for every 80,000 passenger trips.