New Westminster man arrested for transit assault

Transit Police have arrested a New Westminster man for an assault on a fellow bus passenger and threatening a bus driver.

Just after 11 a.m. PT Thursday, three women and a man got on a bus at 8th Avenue and 10th Street in New Westminster.

Transit Police allege the man started to yell at one of the women before kicking, punching and spitting on her.

The man then threatened to punch the bus driver if he wasn’t let off the bus.

The 41-year-old female victim was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital where she received stitches for injuries inside her mouth and on her face.

Brandon Joseph Johnson, 30, was arrested Friday.

Transit Police say he is known to authorities for serious offences including convictions for assaulting a bus driver in 2006 and assaulting a police officer earlier this year.

He has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats and breach of probation.

Johnson is being held in police custody until Monday, when he is scheduled to undergo a psychiatric assessment.