The TTC has suspended a fare inspector involved in a physical altercation with a Black teenager on a streetcar last weekend.

In a letter to City of Toronto ombudsman Susan Opler, TTC acting CEO Richard Leary said the inspector was suspended “with pay pending the outcome of this investigation.”

The investigation will probe allegations that the inspector “failed to treat customers equally without discrimination,” assaulted a customer, acted uncivilly, discredited the reputation of the TTC, and used unauthorized force on a customer.

Read more: TTC investigating after video shows fare inspectors in altercation with teen

On Sunday, the teen was leaving a streetcar near St. Clair Ave. W. and Bathurst St., when he was grabbed by a fare-inspection officer.

Witnesses said the teen was not asked for proof of payment before being grabbed, and was removed from the streetcar and pinned to the ground by two fare inspectors. Three police officers joined in, handcuffing him. Witnesses said he was pinned down for about 20 minutes.

“I didn’t do anything,” said the teenager in a video that caught some of the incident. “You’re hurting me!”

Witnesses said the teen had blood on his face, and was visibly shaken by the incident.

A video shows more than 15 police officers arrived at the scene.

The teen was later released.

No criminal charges were laid.

The Star reached out to the teen, who was not immediately available for comment.

Leary’s letter said that the TTC is trying to complete its investigation as soon as possible, and that transit staff have asked Toronto police to “investigate the matter to determine if criminal charges are warranted.”

Paul Manherz, the TTC’s Unit Complaints Coordinator, will conduct the investigation “in consultation with TTC’s Diversity and Human Rights Department.”

The TTC declined to provide further comment.

“(The) Professional Standards (unit) is working cooperatively with the TTC to review any potential infractions committed by the police officers or the Special Constables,” said Meaghan Gray, a spokesperson for Toronto police.

Community groups and residents responded passionately to the incident.

The Jane Finch Action Against Poverty group called the incident an example of “egregious violence and anti-Black racism” and demanded the suspension of the fare inspectors and police officers involved, along with a public apology from the TTC, police, and Mayor John Tory’s office.

“They shouldn’t be touching unless they’re in danger or the public’s in danger, so this isn’t good enough,” said Butterly Gopaul, a spokesperson for JFAAP, responding to news of the suspension.

“This is a human rights violation.

“This isn’t something to take lightly.”

Alejandra Bravo, a resident of St. Clair West Village, wrote an open letter to the TTC and Tory’s office demanding answers and more than 200 people have signed it online.

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“Our community continues to demand answers,” Bravo said on Friday. “One suspension won’t solve a problem across the city faced especially by Black youth.”

Councillor Neethan Shan, the city’s Youth Advocate, expressed concern that “young people, particularly young people of colour, are being impacted by excessive force and targeting in our city.”

Tory responded to Shan’s letter on Friday before the suspension was announced, saying he shared his concern that young people of colour are disproportionately targeted, and that he welcomes all the investigations underway.

“I believe this will ensure that the public will have a full and transparent accounting of why this occurred and how we can ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.