70 Arrested in Crackdown on Misbehavior on MTA Buses

Geared toward curbing vandalism and boisterous behavior by MTA bus passengers, the LAPD has bolstered the number of undercover officers patrolling the city’s 1,800 vehicles, a Los Angeles police official said.

Seventy people were arrested during a three-day citywide undercover operation that took place Sept. 8-10, said Capt. Vance Proctor of the transit bus division. Thirty-seven of those arrested were juveniles.

“Crime statistics tell us that there is no significant crime problem, yet there is still a fear,” said Proctor. “What is that fear brought on by? I think it is by unruly behavior by some bus patrons, by the vandalism in buses. We want to bring back more civility to what’s going on in the buses.”

The undercover operation took place near 10 city high schools during daylight hours, said Proctor. He declined to identify the locations.

Fifteen of the suspects were charged with vandalism, five for narcotics, 27 for creating a nuisance aboard the buses and 15 were alcohol-related. Among those others seized was a man allegedly carrying a weapon.

Two recent incidents involving bus drivers have heightend concern about safety on the MTA’s bus lines.

In August, a bus driver was sexually assaulted and robbed in San Pedro. Four days later, a female bus driver was stabbed in Inglewood while she was taking a break.

Proctor said that in each case, a suspect was arrested two days after the incident occurred.

Without revealing numbers, the police captain said that more undercover police officers will be deployed on city MTA bus lines.

Proctor said: “If you don’t see a uniform officer on the bus, think twice before acting: The person sitting next to you may be an undercover LAPD officer.”