Bus Driver Stabbed In Venice; 60-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

VENICE, CA — A 60-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a bus driver in the back during a stop in Venice, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Monday.

According to LAPD, officers received a report of an "Ambulance Cutting" incident on June 22 at about 2:05 p.m. near the 1700 block of Main Street in Venice. Police said the driver briefly left the bus to check an exterior part when a man came from behind him.

"The suspect approached the victim and without provocation, stabbed him in the back," LAPD said in a statement.

When officers arrived, witnesses directed them to the suspect, who was identified as 60-year-old Mark Charbonneaux. Paramedics transported the bus driver to a local hospital to treat his injuries and he remains in stable condition, authorities said.

Charbonneaux was also taken to a hospital to treat injuries unrelated to the stabbing or the arrest, LAPD said. Investigation into the incident revealed that a security guard from a local business pepper sprayed Charbonneaux before LAPD arrived, according to detectives.

Hospital staff later cleared Charbonneaux and he was released for booking.

Police recovered a four-inch folding knife at the scene and arrested Charbonneaux on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.