via Wkyc:
Authorities have identified both the driver and the passenger involved in a heated physical altercation on board an RTA bus earlier this month, and now both are facing criminal charges.
The Shaker Heights prosecutor’s office confirms Cierra Gill—the passenger who appeared to start the confrontation—and Anthony Lesley—the driver who threw multiple punches at her and pinned her to a seat—are charged with aggravated disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. In addition, Lesley is charged with unlawful restraint.
The scuffle occurred back on June 7 near Green Road and Shaker Blvd. in Shaker Heights. Surveillance footage shows Gill screaming at Lesley (apparently running late) to “do [his] f—ing job” before eventually walking up from the back of the bus and getting in his face. He eventually restrained her and pinned her into a seat, but she then got back up and started throwing punches at him before he threw back and restrained her again, only stopping after another passenger intervened.
The aggravated disorderly conduct charges are punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Lesley is currently on leave from the RTA as an investigation into the incident continues.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Greater Cleveland RTA released the following statement:
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) was notified by the Shaker Heights prosecutor’s office today that RTA bus operator Anthony Lesley was charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint, first degree misdemeanors, related to an altercation with a passenger on the No. 94 bus on Friday, June 7.
Mr. Lesley was suspended without pay on June 7, immediately following the incident. He remains suspended pending further administrative action.
Mr. Lesley has been a bus operator with RTA since 2015.
