Paramus Police Seek Jitney Bus Attack Suspect

PARAMUS, NJ — Police are looking for help identifying a man wanted for assaulting and threatening a man on a jitney bus May 2.

The incident occurred on the Spanish Transportation Enterprises jitney bus on Route 4 East shortly before 4 p.m., said Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg.

The suspect got on the bus on Broadway near the White Castle shortly before 3:30 p.m.; he wore Capri camouflage pants, sunglasses, and a black sweatshirt with "NYC Carpenters Union Political Action Team" printed on it, Ehrenberg said.

The victim got on the bus at 3:44 p.m. at 2218 Broadway in Fair Lawn. As the victim walked passed the man, the suspect stomped on his foot, Ehrenberg said.

As the victim sat down, the man moved his seat closer to him and harassed him, asking the victim if he was Indian, the chief said. The suspect said the victim's family killed his father and that he was a terrorist and responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

The suspect spit at the victim, brandished a box cutter, slashing it through the air, and hitting the man's backpack, the chief said.

While near the 24 Hour Fitness building on Route 4 East, the suspect demanded the driver stop the bus and told the victim to get off, Ehrenberg said. The victim got off and called the Paramus Police Department, he said.

The suspect got off at the next stop on Route 4 in River Edge near Main Street in Hackensack.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Detective Sal Cosentino at 201-262-3400, ext. 1415 or use the Paramus Police Department's anonymous TIPS app at paramuspolice.org.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com