DA: Man Chases Down MTA Bus, Pulls Loaded Gun On Driver Over Allegedly Missing Stop
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The president of the New York City Transit Authority was in court Wednesday. He's not in trouble, he wanted to see the man accused of pulling a gun on one of his employees last month.
Tony Burnett, 28, was arrested earlier this month and charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment, reports CBS2's Lisa Rozner.
New York City Transit President Andy Byford sat in State Supreme Court for three hours just to see Burnett arraigned on felony charges.
Police said Burnett boarded an M11 bus around 7:40 a.m. on August 9 at 86th Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side and pulled out a loaded .38 caliber revolver.
He allegedly confronted the driver, asking, "Why didn't you stop for me?"
The driver alleges Burnett was a block away from the official bus stop and then allegedly jumped a cab to catch up to the bus with the loaded gun, cursing and confronting the driver.
Officers tracked him down a short time later.
"I'm pushing for maximum possible penalties," said Byford. "Whether it's spitting, punching, whatever, until and unless those penalties are applied, these awful incidents will keep happening."
The maximum is what the district attorney recommended: Seven years.
Burnett, a repeat fare evader, pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
The case was adjourned so Burnett could be given a psychological exam. He has had four previous arrests for assault, robbery and fare evasion, a police source told CBS2.
"That person had time to think about it, he had time to cool down, and reflect on what was the right thing to do," said Byford. "No assault is ever acceptable, however frustrated you are with service."
The incident comes during an increase in assaults on MTA employees, including last month when an unknown substance was thrown at a driver, and in June when a man climbed on a bus and attacked a driver.
The driver in this case was too shaken to go on camera but told CBS2 he's traumatized and has been out on medical leave.
"He's very shook up and scared but he's still labeled as a hero because he still went to the precinct to get help and justice," said Donald Yates, Union Division chairman, Manhattan Bus Operators.
Transit workers say they appreciate Byford's presence in court, but they sound cautious.
"If it's genuine or not, time will tell," said Yates.
The next court date is scheduled for Oct. 2 and Byford says he plans to attend that hearing as well.
Burnett's attorney declined to be interviewed on camera, but told CBS he believes his client is mentally ill.
