Saturday, February 1, 2014

The undeclared race war. Can you guess the race of the victim and the perps?


Flint police believe assault on MTA bus driver part of so-called 'knockout game'


FLINT, MI – Police say a Mass Transportation Authority bus driver was punched in the face as part of the so-called "knockout game" that's gained national attention.
The "knockout game" has been blamed for attacks in several cities and involves suspects punching strangers for no reason.
The Flint bus incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, when a man was attacked while driving the bus.
The driver suffered several facial injuries, according to police. Another teen filmed the incident as it took place.
Police originally said the incident occurred because one of the suspects was upset about having to pay a bus fare, but further investigation showed it was a planned attack, said Flint police Capt. Collin Birnie.
"This was planned, orchestrated and filmed," he said.
A juvenile who punched the driver and a juvenile who filmed the incident have been arrested, Birnie said. A third suspect who police believe helped orchestrate it remains at large, he said.
"The assault on the MTA bus driver, you've heard it referred to nationwide as the knockout game," Birnie said. "That's exactly what we had."
The "knockout game" has gained attention in recent months after videos and other reports surfaced about young people going around and attempting to knock a stranger out in one punch. There have been reports of these incidents in cities such as New York, Pittsburgh and Denver.
Here in Genesee County, Flint police and Prosecutor David Leyton said they haven't heard of any other similar incidences happening here.
Leyton was not amused about the "game."
"It's not a game; it's a crime," said Leyton.
The juveniles have been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, he said.
"The driver has serious injuries and we will seek to hold the juveniles accountable," said Leyton.
Ed Benning, MTA general manager, said the driver had to undergo surgery to repair broken bones around the eye as a result of the punch.
"Besides the injury he seemed to be in good spirits," Benning said of the driver.
Benning said attacks on bus drivers are rare and that his agency takes the incident seriously.
"With something of this nature we will pursue this to the fullest extent of the law," Benning said.
Birnie said one of the juveniles was identified and arrested after a school liaison officer recognized the teen that videotaped the incident, while the juvenile who allegedly committed the assault was apprehended after an anonymous tip.
"It was good police work combined with an anonymous tip that led us to two arrests," Birnie said. "We are still, however, looking for a third suspect. There are pictures out there. We are asking again that the public help us."
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the third suspect is asked to call Flint police at 810-237-6801 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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