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Metro Punishes Bus Driver Who Fought With Rider

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By David Schultz

Police charged Vento Mickens with simple assault after he got into an altercation with a rider earlier this month.

Metro spokesman Steve Taubenkibel says the two were fighting about a fare.

It was the latest in a string of Metro employees getting in trouble with the law.

The week before, police charged a track worker with public drunkenness just hours before his shift was supposed to start.

Prior to that, Metro rehired a bus driver who had been arrested for punching a man dressed as McGruff the Crime Dog.

Metro had tried to fire the bus driver, but his union appealed and won in arbitration.

Metro has opted not to fire Mickens, however.

Taubenkibel says he'll be getting a five-day suspension without pay.

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