Police: Suspect Wanted For Temporarily Blinding MTA Bus Driver With Laser Pointer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have released surveillance video of a man who they said temporarily blinded a city bus driver with a laser pointer.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. last Wednesday in the Bronx.
The man was riding a Bx15 bus when he aimed the laser pointer at the driver's rearview mirror, police said. MTA bus driver Kenneth Johnson said the beam then struck him in his eyes when he looked into the mirror.
"It was like looking into a bright light. It was a red beam," said Johnson. "I was blinded by the light, so I really couldn't identify who the passenger was who was shooting it."
Johnson stopped the bus on Third Avenue at East 181st Street, but the suspect was able to escape with a crowd of about 25 other riders.
Johnson was taken to the hospital and treated for eye pain, police said.
The suspect was seen on surveillance video inside the bus. The MTA said its fleet of 5,700 buses includes approximately 1,600 security camera systems.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.