RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Hours after Richmond Police asked the victim of an assault on a GRTC Pulse bus to come forward, to help find a man accused of striking multiple women in the Greater Richmond area, comes news the suspect was apprehended.

At about noon on Aug. 31, security footage showed a man rising from his seat on a bus. As he stepped toward the back of the bus, he intentionally hit the victim, who was sitting behind him, in the head. The suspect then pretended to slip near the driver, and eventually exited the bus.

Security footage of the GRTC Pulse bus assault on July 21, 2020.

This man is the suspect in two other attacks on random women in the City of Richmond and one in Henrico County:

  • Around 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 31, security video shows an elderly woman using a cane to cross  East Broad Street at North 4th Street. When she reached the sidewalk, the suspect punched her in the face so hard she was knocked to the ground, and then he walks away.
  • At about 3:45 p.m. on July 21, another security video shows a victim on her phone and the suspect sitting directly in front of her. When the bus begins to stop, the suspect leans back and elbows the victim in the head and chest. He then pretends to fall again, elbowing the victim in the head a second time, before existing the bus.

A Richmond Police spokesperson told 8News the suspect has been apprehended but did not disclose additional information.

Carrie Rose Pace, a spokeswoman for GRTC, told 8News on Wednesday that the transit system is cooperating with police and that this is the first reported incident with the suspect.

“These incidents are rare so it is safe to ride GRTC, but we take this incident very seriously,” Pace said. “This is exactly why we have security footage on both the inside and outside of all of our vehicles, both our buses and our vans.”

Pace asks riders to report any suspicious or criminal acts they see on buses. “Our operators, any time they see something, they say something,” she said. “We encourage our passengers to stay alert and if you see something, don’t ignore it. Go ahead and notify your operator.”

Security camera footage of the assault of an elderly woman on Aug. 31.

Pace also said to report any incidents happening outside of buses as well.

Pace said only one of the two victims contacted GRTC and she urged the other woman to come forward. “We hope that they will also cooperate with the investigation so we can find this person and ensure that it doesn’t happen to anybody else on our vehicles.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones may also be used. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

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