Man Arrested After Attacking Passenger With Liquor Bottle On Port Authority Bus
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man is in custody after allegedly attacking a passenger on a Port Authority bus with a bottle of liquor.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. Friday in Oakland on the 61B Braddock-Swissvale bus.
The suspect is identified as 30-year-old Juergen Benjamin, a homeless man said to be from a suburb of Philadelphia.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim - 24-year-old Aki Mitchell-Witherspoon - was sitting near the back of the bus when Benjamin boarded.
KDKA's Brenda Waters: "Did it appear they knew each other?"
Port Authority Police Chief Matt Porter: "Reports from the scene and reports from the victim, they did not know each other."
The argument and attack happened near Forbes Avenue and South Neville Street. Benjamin is accused of hitting the victim in the head and neck with the bottle, which caused it to shatter. Benjamin continued to attack the victim with the broken bottle.
"Can't determine if it's a malt liquor bottle or a vodka bottle," said Chief Porter. "The victim suffered cuts on his head and neck and defensive wounds on his hands."
The driver pulled over the in 4800 block of Forbes Avenue, where terrified passengers were able to get off the bus.
Benjamin also got off the bus, but University of Pittsburgh Police were able to catch him several blocks away. His clothes were reportedly soaked with blood.
He is now facing a list of charges including, public drunkenness and aggravated assault. He remains in the Allegheny County Jail on $25,000 straight bond.
This latest incident is not the first time Port Authority Police have encountered Benjamin. Earlier this month, he was arrested for kicking and breaking the window on a bus.
Mitchell-Witherspoon was treated and released from a local hospital on Friday night.
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