Dec 15, 2007 8:28 pm US/Eastern
Surveillance Photos Released In MTA Bus Attack
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
Maryland Transit Administration police are investigating a fight aboard a transit bus in Baltimore's Brooklyn neighborhood.
A massive search is underway right now for a group of men accused of attacking two people on a bus in South Baltimore. It's the second attack on an MTA bus in two weeks, and authorities have now released pictures of the suspects.
Dennis Edwards has new reaction and details of the assault.
The MTA confirms it happened along the Number 64 route. They need your help to identify the group of men caught on tape who they believe are behind the most recent attack.
MTA authorities tell
Eyewitness News the men attacked two other men just before midnight Monday.
"We really need the public to help us. These picture are clear, and we want people to know if you act out, we're going to look for you, and you're going to be held accountable," said Jawauna Greene, spokesperson for the MTA.
"Overall our MTA buses are safe. We want to really make sure we are proactive to some resolutions to this problem," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
According to reports, the victims, who are white, claim the assailants, who are African-American, used racial slurs, but so far authorities are not investigating this as a hate crime.
"The MTA can't make any classifications as to what the crime is. We can only look at the facts of the crime and present that to the proper authorities," said Greene.
The videotape shows the men getting onboard minutes before the attack. All MTA buses are equipped with camera and emergency call buttons.
"Our bus drivers are fully trained to respond in the event of an emergency," said Greene.
This attack follows one in Hampden last week. Police said Sarah Kreager was beaten by several teenagers. She's white, they are African- American. Authorities are looking at whether her attack is a hate crime.
The security tape recovered on that bus was blank.
The recent violence rattled many people, including Dave Biggs, who says he was shot while getting off a bus in Brooklyn Park several years ago.
"Why are they doing that? What does it prove?" Biggs asks. "Something's got to be done."
The MTA says they have increased the number of uniformed police officers and plainclothes officers onboard.
Police are asking for your help in this latest attack by taking another look at the surveillance images. If you know any of the people pictured, call authorities right away.
"I don't think it's taken seriously," said Sarah Mertens, a Baltimore resident. "And I think it needs to be taken seriously."
"The public certainly is alarmed because of the close nature of timing between these two incidents," Greene said.
Again, the MTA is not calling this a hate crime. One of your best defenses if you find yourself in danger on the bus is to call 911 or the MTA security hotline at
410-454-7720. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
