A Metro mechanic is facing an assault charge after being accused of stabbing another transit system mechanic with a screwdriver.
The incident happened at the Bladensburg bus garage off 26th Street in Northeast Washington. Police were called to the garage at 2:17 p.m. Jan. 16 with reports that an assault with a deadly weapon had occurred, according to D.C. Metropolitan Police.
Mechanic Daryl Lee Redfearn declined to say what prompted the dispute. The 42-year-old was not injured but he was charged with simple assault and possession of a prohibited weapon, court records show. He was fired a month after the stabbing occurred.
He is fighting to get rehired.
“I was treated very unfairly,” Redfearn said when contacted by The Examiner. “It wasn’t a fair investigation.
The mechanic who was stabbed with the screwdriver has recovered and returned to work, the transit agency said.
“It is rare that incidents like these occur,” said Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel. “Any time these do occur, it is followed up on immediately.”
However, Redfearn said he is challenging his termination. He said a decision from arbiters is waiting for his court case to be resolved in D.C. Superior Court. Monday’s criminal trial was rescheduled for Oct. 5. He said he plans to plead not guilty.
“The truth and evidence will come out at trial,” he said.
One of his attorneys, Amanda Crowley Fraser, declined to comment on the pending criminal case, but said, “We look forward to clearing Mr. Redfearn’s name.”
The incident is one of several cases of trouble for Metro employees this year.
This summer one Metrobus driver was charged with kidnapping a passenger, while another was charged with driving without a license after a bus crash. Earlier this year, one was fired for punching out an off-duty cop in a McGruff the Crime Dog costume, while another was fatally shot by an off-duty cop in what police have said was a botched robbery attempt. Others were caught reading or sleeping while operating vehicles.
The transit agency said last week it has tightened its standards for new hires.
