By: Richard L. Smith
A disturbing assault on an NJ Transit bus driver in Newark has prompted detectives to ask for the public’s help in identifying the suspect involved.
The incident happened around 6:19 a.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, when a man boarded a bus at 21st Street in Irvington.
Authorities said that without any provocation, the passenger leaned around the driver’s protective barrier and spat on her face, hair, and clothing as the bus reached South 10th Street and Springfield Avenue.
The encounter was captured on the bus’s surveillance system.
Investigators describe the suspect as a young Black male, about 5’3” tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds, and wearing a dark-colored hooded sweater with black pants at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS.