ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 38-year-old Lynx bus driver has been charged with battery after he was accused of hitting a passenger's hand, knocking his cell phone to the ground.
At 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, 29-year-old Adrian Cano boarded Lynx Bus #8 at the central Lynx station, located at 455 North Garland Avenue.
Recommended Videos
The bus driver, later identified as 38-year-old Marcus Phillips, was in a verbal argument with a woman, according to deputies.
The driver drove on the route and back towards the station. Deputies said several passengers became angry and the bus driver continued making remarks to the passengers.
As the bus approached Cano's stop, deputies said he stood up and turned on his cell phone. As Cano passed Marcus, he told him that his behavior was unprofessional.
The bus driver then took off his seat belt and swung at Cano, striking his right hand and knocking his cell phone to the ground, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office,
Deputies said Cano did not give anyone permission to touch him in any way. Cano told deputies he is willing to testify in court and wishes to prosecute criminally.
Deputies met with Phillips after the incident. He told deputies there was an altercation on the bus between two women on the bus.
Phillips told deputies he drove the bus back to the Lynx station, where he had the women removed from the bus.
Phillips then restarted his route when Cano, who is unknown to Marcus, began complaining about six minutes being wasted turning around.
Upon reaching the Holden Avenue stop, located at 4600 S Orange Blossom Trail, Phillips told deputies that Cano began calling him a "whore" and calling his mother names, according to OCSO's report.
Phillips told deputies that Cano was recording him and that Cano would send the video to his supervisor. At this time, deputies said Phillips knocked the cell phone out of Adrian's hand and drove off.
Surveillance video from the Lynx bus shows Cano approach the bus driver from the back of the bus, holding his cell phone in his right hand. Deputies said Phillips was then seen taking off his seat belt and stepping out of his seat towards Cano.
The bus then moved forward, Phillips got back into the driver's seat and placed the bus in park. Deputies said Phillips again gets up, walks towards Cano, and strikes his right hand, knocking his cell phone to the ground.
OCSO said charges of battery are being filed with the State Attorney's Office against Phillips.