Racist Who Punched Indo-Canadian Bus Driver In Surrey Arrested

INVC,

CANADA,

A 23-year-old Surrey man who is accused of assaulting a South Asian bus driver was arrested today morning for the incident that took place at the Surrey Central Station bus loop on Monday. Brandon John Watterworth was arrested and charged with robbery and breach of recognizance. He is in custody and made a court appearance on Thursday. He was arrested at his home just after midnight by transit police, who were acting on a tip from the public regarding his identity. Nathan Woods, president of Uni for Local 111,told the Province newspaper the incident began when Watterworth boarded the Coas Mountain bus at 168th Streetand Fraser Highway and started shouting racist obscenities at the Indo-Canadian driver. Woods said the driver was punched in the face and had his glasses smashed. When the bus driver, and berserk passenger arrived at Surrey Central Station, the driver chased the unruly passenger— only to be assaulted again. Watterworth reportedly punched the driver numerous times and made derogatory comments towards the driver, including racial slurs.

The driver suffered cuts and abrasions and was treated at the scene by ambulance attendants.“He’s hurt, he’s upset, and he’s scared,” Woods said of the injured driver. “He didn’t expect this. It just came out of the blue.” The union representing Metro Vancouver transit bus drivers had been offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to an arrest. The man reportedly punched the driver numerous times and made derogatory comments towards the driver, including racial slurs. The driver suffered cuts and abrasions and was treated at the scene by ambulance attendants. The suspect, who transit police said is “very” well known to them, breached the conditions of his bail relating to previous assault and weapons charges, as well as assaulting a police officer .He was on bail related to 2012 charges in Surrey of assaulting a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a prohibited weapon without a licence, and a Vancouver Police Department charge of breach of recognizance. His bail conditions included a curfew and abstaining from alcohol and drug consumption