Police in Lodi New Jersey recently captured a Paterson NJ man who allegedly assaulted a bus driver.

According to Lodi officials, the 28-year-old suspect assaulted an NJ Transit bus driver while the bus was on its way through Lodi, New Jersey.

At some point during the bus ride, the suspect reportedly became belligerent and disruptive, culminating in a violent attack on the bus driver. When the driver requested that the suspect get off the public bus, the suspect allegedly began to verbally abuse the driver, as well as other passengers.

The suspect then reportedly attacked the driver before finally getting off the bus and running from the scene.

Lodi NJ police officers got to the scene a short time after the suspect fled the area. They canvassed the surrounding area in search of the suspect and eventually managed to find him hiding in the backyard of a residence on North Savoie Street.

The suspect, who is from Paterson, New Jersey, was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a bus driver.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the assault charges, he would face significant criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who commits an assault against the operator of a motorbus in NJ can be charged with a second degree crime. A conviction on second degree aggravated assault charges could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.

After being placed under arrested and processed, the suspect was taken to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail on a $2,500 bail amount.

For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Paterson Man Assaulted NJ Transit Bus Driver, Police Say.”