Suspect Arrested In RTD Bus Driver Assault
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Lakewood have arrested the man they believe attacked an RTD bus driver last week.
Officers arrested Anthony Matthew Mata on suspicion of assaulting the driver of an RTD bus. The alleged assault happened about 5 a.m. on Sept. 8 when the bus driver stopped at Colfax and Miller Street where Mata, 26, boarded the Route 16 RTD bus.
Police said Mata displayed an expired RTD fare ticket. When the driver told Mata he would have to purchase a new pass, Mata reportedly attacked the driver, leaving him with injuries that included a broken nose.
Detectives obtained an image of Mata on the surveillance camera on board the bus.
On Sunday, another RTD driver in Westminster recognized Mata and called RTD Security and the Westminster Police Department. Mata was reportedly wearing the exact same clothing he was when the image of him was captured from the RTD bus last Thursday.
A Lakewood police officer responded and took Mata into custody. After questioning, he was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on suspicion of second-degree assault and endangering public transportation and utility transmission.
