TAMPA -- A HART (Hillsborough transit) bus passenger is hailed as a Good Samaritan after coming to the rescue of a transit driver being stabbed by a man with a box cutter.
It was the second stabbing of a HART driver this year. Thomas Dunn was killed in a similar attack in May. This time, the driver survived, but required emergency surgery for wounds to his leg.
Police say John Phelps, 61, pushed his foldable shopping cart between the driver and the suspect, 65-year-old James Ambrose (pictured), during Tuesday's incident at Waters Avenue and 9th Street, protecting the driver and others from further injury.
The incident started, according to police, when Ambrose boarded the bus and tried to put cash in the fare box. It malfunctioned and he went berserk, pepper-spraying the driver and blinding him, then cutting him up.
Police say Phelps pushed his way up from the back of the bus and shoved the cart toward Ambrose while he was still stabbing the driver, keeping himself between Ambrose and passengers. Ambrose lunged at Phelps, then fled the scene. In the melee, police say, Ambrose cut his own leg. They found him a few blocks away. They quote him as saying "I'm going to prison for 15 years."
After the second stabbing of a bus driver this year, the head of the union representing transit drivers in (Tampa) Hillsborough County wants to speed up the arrival of safety barriers.
John Costa says they're not satisfied with progress so far toward installing safety shields. Costa says the ATU is also urging transit agencies to look at a type of bus developed by Mercedes-Benz in Europe, which has a safety shield that goes up and down with the push of a button.
UPDATE: HART has issued this statement:
On Tuesday November 19th, our long-time HART Operator was attacked while simply doing his job on board a HART bus. Our Operator came to work yesterday as a public servant doing his professional best to bring our seniors to doctor's appointments, to take our neighbors to work and to serve Hillsborough County. Tampa Police arrested the suspect who used pepper spray to disorient our Operator and then attacked him multiple times with a box cutter.
We are thankful for a dedicated customer who had the courage to step-in and defend our Operator. This individual forced the suspect off the bus. He then stayed at our Operator's side and called 9-1-1 for help.
HART is calling for the community's support as we stand alongside our Operators and their families. The Tampa Police Department and HART are continuing a long standing partnership by enhancing coverage and increasing presence of law enforcement in and around HART facilities and along our service areas.
HART continues to support our employees by seeking the support of the legislative delegation and requesting an increase to the penalty for assault of a Transit Worker/Bus Operator.
We are offering on-demand professional counseling to all employees on-site today and tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Tampa Police