A Metrobus driver criminally charged with assaulting a rider during a fare dispute earlier this month is now serving an unpaid five-day suspension, according to the transit agency.
Vento Mickens is the latest Metro employee to be arrested on the job by the agency’s own police. Many of the others have been fired, but even so the transit agency has been forced to bring some of them back.
In this latest case, Mickens, a veteran with more than 23 years at Metro, was charged with simple assault on June 18 while operating the route 71 bus, according to Metro.
The fight occurred over the rider’s fare — before the new fare increase began — near Georgia Avenue and Van Buren Street in Northwest D.C. as the bus was headed to Buzzards Point.
Mickens was initially placed on paid leave and tested for drugs and alcohol, as is standard during an investigation. Metro spokesman Reggie Woodruff said Monday that Mickens had since been suspended without pay and was currently serving his suspension.
Mickens could not be reached for comment on Monday.
So far in 2010, Metro has fired at least seven workers, including four arrested in connection with incidents that occurred on the job.
In April, three drivers were arrested, including a Metrobus operator accused of pulling a knife on a motorist, another accused of soliciting an undercover cop for prostitution, and a MetroAccess driver charged with a third-degree sex offense. All three were then fired.
Another Metrobus driver was canned after being photographed sending text messages while driving and another after crashing into a pedestrian.
Last year, the transit agency pledged to tighten both its hiring practices and employee disciplinary policies after other arrests made the news, including the case of a Metrobus driver socking an off-duty cop dressed as McGruff the Crime Dog. The agency fired that driver, but, as The Washington Examiner first reported, an arbitration panel forced it to reinstate him. He returned to driving a Metrobus earlier this month.
