Metro bus attacks: Suspect arrested
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man has been arrested in connection to eight attacks on Metro buses over the last two weeks, authorities said.
The suspect, 24-year-old Hector Resendez, is suspected of violently attacking eight people on Metro buses across L.A. County since June 16. Investigators say the two most recent incidents occurred on Friday.
The suspect allegedly stabbed a bus driver with a screw driver around 10 a.m. at Slauson Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard in Maywood. Earlier, around 5:30 a.m., he allegedly stabbed a rider on a bus at Figueroa Street and Avenue 26 in the Cypress area. Investigators say the suspect hit other victims with blunt objects.
A perimeter was set up to search for the suspect following the Maywood incident. Investigators say he was spotted near the crime scene and taken into custody without incident around 11:45 a.m. in Huntington Park.
According to detectives, these are isolated incidents involving one suspect. The motive for the attacks were unclear.
"This is extremely rare. Our transit system, our buses are extremely, extremely safe. This is an isolated incident with one person that we feel is responsible for all of them," said Ronene Anda, chief of the LASD Transit Policing Division.
Metro, meantime, has unveiled new security measures in hopes of decreasing the number of assaults on drivers and passengers. They are installing new video security systems on buses and ordering new ones that come equipped with them.
