A SMART bus driver was slashed in the face with a fluorescent green box cutter Thursday morning when he refused to transport a man who asked him to deviate from his route and also lacked the fare to pay for the ride.



The assault occurred about 5:30 a.m. Thursday at the driver's last southbound stop on Gratiot south of 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township Police Det. Sgt. Deron Myers said in a news release. The driver, who was operating a handicap accessible passenger van, told the suspect he would have to wait for a full-sized bus to take him to his desired location, Cass and Gratoit in Mount Clemens.

The suspect then said he didn't have any money and demanded that the driver transport him. When the driver refused and asked the suspect to exit the van, the man pulled out the box cutter and began slashing at the driver, Myers said. The driver held up his arm to defend himself, but received a superficial cut to his face, Myers said. The driver's jacket sleeve was shredded in several places before the driver was able to escape the vehicle.

The driver told police that he put his cell phone to his ear as if he were calling 911, provoking the suspect to flee on foot. The suspect is described as a dark-skinned black male between the ages of 30-35 with a stocky build, thick mustache and acne scarring. He was wearing green and white Michigan State sweat pants and a black and gray hooded flannel jacket.