Winnipeg Transit driver attacked on bus during afternoon rush hour

A 26-year-old man has been charged with assault following an attack on a Winnipeg Transit driver during the afternoon rush hour in the downtown area Tuesday.

Police say an "intoxicated passenger" boarded a transit bus around 5:45 p.m. near Portage Avenue and Vaughan Street and threw a handful of change at the fare box.

Some of the change fell onto the floor and the bus driver asked the male passenger if he had enough money to pay the fare, at which time the driver was assaulted in the upper body, according to police.

Both the driver and passenger fell onto the floor of the bus during the physical altercation, and eventually the man got off the bus and ran away, according to police, who added that witnesses gave officers information about the incident and the whereabouts of the passenger.

At around 6 p.m., officers arrested the suspect near the 400 block of Spence Street.

Investigators say they later learned that the same suspect had threatened to stab two other people near the 400 block of Balmoral Street. No one was injured in that incident.

In addition to the assault charge, the man has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and two weapons-related charges.