Man punches Manhattan bus driver in face after being told to wear face covering: police

MTA bus driver punched
Photo credit NYPD

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Police are searching for a man who punched an MTA bus driver in the face when the driver stopped him from entering a bus in Manhattan because he didn’t have a face covering on.

The man tried to enter an M2 bus near Madison Avenue and East 29th Street in Midtown early Monday morning, when he was stopped by the 62-year-old bus driver because he lacked a face covering, police said.

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After being told he couldn’t enter the bus, the man punched the driver in the face before running away, according to police.

The driver suffered pain and swelling and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital by EMS in stable condition.

The NYPD released surveillance video of the suspect on Wednesday.

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On Tuesday, MTA Chairman Pat Foye told Cheddar: “The attacks on transit workers are abhorrent, they violate the law and we're going to do everything we can with MTA managers, volunteers and police officers from the NYPD and the MTA police to make sure that those attacks do not occur.”

The MTA said this week it’s launching “Operation Respect,” which will have hundreds of employees and volunteers handing out masks for free to riders as part of an initiative to make sure everyone wears a face coverings on mass transit.