Dec 9, 2007 11:48 am US/Eastern
Woman Attacked On Bus Placed In Witness Protection
BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) ―
Investigators are learning more as days go by in what police believe to be a possible hate crime.
A woman was attacked on a bus, causing her severe facial injuries.
A group of teens say the woman started the confrontation, but Sarah Kreager says she did not spit on or use racial slurs toward nine middle school students charged in the attack.
Kathryn Brown reports bus riders are demanding more security.
The customers say security lapses start with deserted, poorly lit bus stops and continue right up to the bus ride itself.
Sarah Kreager's face won't ever be exactly the same after a group of teenagers attacked her on a city bus, breaking several bones in her face. The beating caused severe bruising, as well as head and neck injuries.
Transit officials call it an unprovoked attack, and police are now investigating it as a possible hate crime. The suspects are African- American and Kreager is white.
"When these juveniles came in, several indicated, 'That's my seat.' She got up and went to another seat. They said, 'That one's my seat.' Finally when she stayed in her seat is when they began assaulting her," said a transit worker.
Daily bus riders like Beverly Scast and many more say teenagers that board city buses from Robert Poole Middle School are frequently unruly and rowdy.
"It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous because they're loud, they're obnoxious," said daily bus rider Ed Baker.
Sarah Kreager says she does not think she did anything to antagonize the students. Kreager, who is white, says she thinks race was a factor but feels the incident escalated because of peer pressure among the students, who are black.
"Young people have to realize that they have to respect individuals. This was uncalled for," said Dixon.
Many bus riders say they don't feel safe on buses and that security is a big issue.
"We need more security. We really do," said bus rider Crystal Fraction.
"Because the buses are crowded, especially when the school kids get off. The people who work can't even get on the bus," said bus rider Linder Hunter.
The recent attack, some say, points out the need for change. In the meantime, they're changing their own habits.
"I'm very cautious. I make sure that I'm sitting next to someone that seems safe anyway," said Scast.
The Transit Administration is pledging to add more police to school runs.
As of now, eight teens have been arrested and charged in the beating. All are 14 or 15. They've also been banned from city buses and suspended from school.
Kreager has been put into the witness protection program because officials say they are concerned for her safety.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
