News website www.local10.com reports about the arrest of a woman who was caught on video slapping a Broward County bus driver last October.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, the surveillance video of the incident was released to the public during the last few weeks. Tips from the public ultimately led to the whereabouts and identity of the accused woman.
Broward County sheriff's deputies said that the 72-year-old bus driver was driving his route when the woman boarded the bus and told him she didn't have money. According to police, the driver told the woman she would have to get off the bus. He then accidentally hit her with one of the doors.
The woman allegedly slapped the driver hard enough that his sunglasses fell off. She then walked off the bus and was not found again until she was recently arrested.
Police said that after she was arrested, the accused woman admitted she was the woman in the video, but said she didn't remember slapping the bus driver.
The woman was booked into the Broward Main Jail and faces charges of battery on a person 65 years or older. This is a felony of the third degree punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison. She was also charged with
possession of alprazolam (Xanax), another third-degree felony.
Battery on an elderly person/65 years or older can only be proven if the accused knew or should have known that the alleged victim was 65 years or older. If there is no evidence that the accused knew or should have known that the alleged victim, then the most the accused can be convicted of is misdemeanor battery.
I noticed on the Broward Sheriff's website that the woman was being held on a $35,000 bond. This is an unusually high bond for a third-degree felony. Hopefully her criminal defense attorney files a
motion to reduce the bond so that she can get out of jail and fight these charges.
I represent clients charged with criminal offenses in Miami-Dade and Broward. If you are looking for a criminal lawyer either for yourself or for a loved one's case, call me today.