Ian Bascombe MTA bus driver who stabbed passenger, Quentin Branch during ‘verbal altercation’ in Brooklyn’s Flatbush not to be prosecuted in ‘self defense’ case.
Define self defense? An MTA bus driver alleged to have stabbed a passenger during a verbal dispute on Friday in Brooklyn will not face charges following a ‘violent altercation’, during a bus route involving the bus driver allegedly stabbing a passenger in ‘self defense’.
Ian Bascombe, 58, was initially charged with assault and weapon possession after the MTA bus driver allegedly stabbing 33-year-old passenger, Quentin Branch in the head and leg following a dispute between the bus driver and passenger in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
Both men were taken were taken to hospital and treated with Branch of East Flatbush now facing charges of second- and third-degree assault and harassment,
‘known recidivist’ customer
Oren Yaniv, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn DA’s office, confirmed on Sunday that Bascombe’s case would not be prosecuted, Gothamist reported.
At the time of the commotion, Branch, 33, a ‘known recidivist’ customer, ordered the driver to stop because he’d boarded the wrong bus, according to cops and sources.
Bascombe tried to keep driving until he could find a safe spot to pull over – to the disconcert of Branch, who allegedly threatened the driver.
The irate rider allegedly spat at Bascombe, telling him, ‘I’m going to break your jaw’ before punching him in the left eye, sources said according to the nypost.
Bascombe in turn, allegedly pulled out a ‘sharp object’ and stabbed Branch in the head and left leg, police said.
Transit Workers Union representative JP Patafio said video evidence from the scene showed the bus driver acted in self-defense. Patafio said Branch harassed and spat on him before escalating the confrontation.
‘This guy was just harassing and haranguing the operator and spitting in the operator’s face,’ he said in an interview on Sunday. ‘When the operator got up, he started punching him and really going after him hard and the operator defended himself.’
Patafio called for stronger protections for bus drivers, including partitions on buses, de-escalation training and a public campaign to encourage respect for the workers.
In a statement, Frank Annicaro, senior vice president of the New York City Transit Department of Buses and MTA Bus Company, said Bascombe had been suspended from service pending an internal review.
‘Violence on buses puts New Yorkers at risk and is not acceptable. Pending internal review, this Bus Operator is being withheld from service.” Annicaro said.
Bascombe has worked for the MTA for 20 years, the agency said.
