Vancouver man charged with assaulting bus driver

A 42-year-old Vancouver man is charged with one count of assault after an alleged incident involving the driver of a 99 B-Line bus on Tuesday evening.

Matthew Bristois accused of spitting onand punchinga bus driver who asked him to leave after he allegedly harassed passengers with derogatory remarks.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say the man boarded at Alma and Broadway and began verbally abusing the driver and those on board. They say the driver stopped at Broadway and Trutchand asked the man to get off the bus. He then began to argue and spat on the driver before leaving the bus and punching the driver twice on the side of the head.

Transit Police say passengers kept the suspect in view until police arrived and arrested him.

The driver did not require medical attention.

Bristo is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Wednesday.