DC Bus Driver Threatened By Knife-Wielding Man Who Refused To Pay Fare: Report

WASHINGTON, DC -- A D.C. man has been arrested after he reportedly threatened to kill a Metrobus driver on Tuesday.

Fox 5 reports that the suspect first refused to pay his fare on the X2 line at the 8th and H streets stop, and then when the driver confronted him, he pulled a knife and threatened his life repeatedly.

An officer soon arrested the suspect, identified as Davon Abney.

ATU Local 689, the union that represents D.C. transit workers, condemned the incident in a statement and claimed that violence and threatened violence against Metro workers was on the rise.

"ATU Local 689, the union representing bus operators, mechanics, maintenance and clerical employees of WMATA is calling – again - for an immediate increase in transit police presence," the statement reads. "In addition, the union is calling on the legislators of Washington D.C. to enhance protections for transit workers by classifying assaults against transit workers as a felony, and allow Metro to ban repeat offenders from the entire system. Transit assaults are at an epidemic level and Metro must address this urgent issue of safety so that workers and the riding public are protected."

Image via WMATA