Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 18, 2005

Individual Arrested for Throwing a Rock at a Metrobus Was Sentenced Yesterday

Yesterday in District of Columbia Superior Court, Tahir Toney, was sentenced for destruction of property, simple assault and possession of a prohibited weapon for an assault on a Metrobus driver that was captured on videotape by an onboard camera. Mr. Toney was sentenced to two years of incarceration for these offenses, with all but 60 days suspended. He started serving the imposed period of 60 days in jail immediately after the Court imposed the sentence on October 17. He will also be required to pay restitution and be on supervised probation for a period of three years after he is released from prison as part of his sentence for his criminal misconduct.

The onboard camera, which captured the man throwing a large rock at a Metrobus operator, on June 1 was one of 100 in the Metrobus system outfitted with cameras. It was the first time an assault on a driver was recorded by a camera.

The Metrobus driver was behind the wheel of a bus on Metro’s P6 line when it came to a stop at Third and T streets N.E., Washington, D.C., at 2:19 p.m. A passenger got off the bus and Mr. Toney, who had been standing on the street, climbed up the first step of the bus and threw a "baseball-sized" rock into the face of the driver a few feet away. Mr. Toney then exited the bus and the driver closed the doors as Mr. Toney picked up another rock, which he threw at the bus as it sped away.

The Metrobus driver, who has worked for Metro for six years, was bleeding from his lip and chin but finished his route and called for help when he reached the end of the route at the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail Station. He was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital where he received several stitches for the cuts on his face.

Twenty-five passengers were on the bus at the time of the assault. One camera was pointed at the front door and recorded Mr. Toney throwing the rock.

"We are sensitive to the security concerns of our Metrobus operators and through diligent police work, we were able to apprehend the individual responsible for this act," said Polly Hanson, Metro’s Chief of Police. "We hope today’s sentencing will serve as a reminder to anyone that throwing rocks or other objects at a motor vehicle or bus is never a good thing."

News release issued on October 18, 2005.