A bus on the “Number 9, Powell Boulevard” line – it connects Gresham Central Transit Center to Portland City Center, via the Tilikum Crossing – came to an abrupt stop just east of S.E. 52nd Avenue, adjacent to the Plaid Pantry store, on Tuesday, June 17 – when a rider caused a significant disruption while on board. In fact, he did a bit more than that.
Although the “Police Transit Division” is now commanded by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO), six Portland Police Bureau officers were also dispatched to the incident at 2:12 p.m., in addition to the one MSCO Transit Police car that brought two of their officers to the scene.
According to a rider on the bus, the man brandished an axe and began chopping away at the bus’s dashboard. He then smashed the farebox and “Hop Card” reader, sending some of the glass into the driver’s face…