Encino, Los Angeles – A suspect has been apprehended following a violent robbery on a Metro bus in Encino, marking the third assault on the transit system within 24 hours. The incident occurred at the intersection of Ventura and Balboa Boulevards around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Initially reported as a stabbing, a Metro spokesperson clarified that the suspect allegedly robbed a man of his cellphone and struck him in the chest, with no stabbing involved. The LAPD responded to the scene and took the suspect into custody as he attempted to leave the bus. Fortunately, the victim did not sustain any serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
This incident follows two other violent encounters within the Metro system the day prior – one on a bus in Glendale and another at the Vermont/Athens C Line train station in South Los Angeles. This recent surge in violence has left frequent Metro riders feeling uneasy, expressing concerns about their safety while officials address the effectiveness of law enforcement presence on the system.
In Glendale, an altercation on an eastbound Metro bus led to a stop, escalating into a street fight where four individuals were involved, resulting in two of them being stabbed. Glendale police arrested two individuals in connection to the incident. At the Vermont/Athens station, a woman was stabbed in the arm within an elevator, and the suspect managed to evade capture, highlighting the growing safety concerns within the Metro system.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized the need for a strategic action plan involving the three law enforcement agencies responsible for Metro – the Los Angeles Police Department, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, and Long Beach Police Department. Barger expressed frustration with the current emphasis on unarmed ambassador programs for passenger safety, advocating for a more robust law enforcement presence to address escalating security issues within the transit system.