Thursday, November 12, 2020

Dorchester man Assaults MBTA bus operator because he asked him to wear a mask.

 On November 11, 2020 at approximately 7:10AM Transit Police officers assigned to the South District received a radio call to respond Washington Street at Lebanon Street in Quincy for a bus operator who was assaulted. Upon arrival officers met with the victim who relayed the following: A male later identified as Joshua Rodriguez, 19, of Dorchester boarded an MBTA bus without wearing a Mask in violation of Executive Order #55. The operator requested Rodriguez put a mask on. Rodriguez refused and as a result the operator requested he disembark from the bus. Rodriguez responded by coughing in the face of the operator and claiming he (Rodriguez) had COVID-19. Rodriguez then declared "I'm not getting off the F****** bus". Subsequently, Rodriguez picked up a chalk block (an item used when the bus is in park) and assaulted the operator with it. Rodriguez then attempted to flee. 

Rodriguez was stopped and positively identified by the victim. Rodriguez was placed into custody for Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and transported to TPD HQ for the arrest booking process. During this process it was discovered Rodriguez had a warrant in existence for his arrest issued out of East Boston District Court for Assault & Battery. 
 

media inquiries should be directed to Superintendent Richard Sullivan at rsullivan@mbta.com  

the events listed above are allegations; All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt