Ride On bus driver granted bond after allegedly assaulting pregnant woman
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () – A Ride On bus driver was granted bond Wednesday after he was accused of assaulting a pregnant woman earlier this week.
Montgomery County Police arrested the driver, Paul Simms, on Tuesday – a day after officers say he got into a fight with the woman on his bus. During the argument, police say things got physical.
Officials with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) say they were in the 5400 block of Wisconsin Avenue late Monday afternoon after they received a report there had been an assault on a Ride On bus.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Bus driver charged for assaulting pregnant woman on Ride On bus, police say
According to documents related to the case, a woman said she and Simms were yelling at each other. She said he threatened to hit her and eventually got up from his seat, choked her and started banging her head against a window.
The woman, who said she is six months pregnant, told police Simms threw her off the bus and onto the ground.
When officers talked to Simms, he said the fight with the woman started after she walked in front of his bus. He was making a turn into the bus station at the time. Documents say Simms acknowledged he grabbed the woman by the neck after she was on the bus, then pushed her off of it.
Officers pulled video from the bus, which they described as 'disturbing.'
They said it shows Simms cursing at the woman before he turned into the station, and that the woman was nowhere near the bus.
Police noted that Simms was verbally aggressive toward the woman after she boarded the bus. The woman yelled only after Simms kept screaming and threatening her. As things escalated, police say he assaulted her.
'Legacy on Ice': Live skating tribute to honor victims of American Airlines, helicopter crash
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) released a statement in response to this situation. Its full statement can be found below:
I want to address a recent incident involving one of our bus operators. On Monday evening, Feb. 3, around 5:30 p.m. at the Friendship Heights Metro Station, a verbal altercation between a County bus operator and a passenger led to the bus operator becoming physically violent with the passenger. While both individuals engaged in a verbal argument, that does not justify or excuse the actions of the bus operator who failed to follow training and established procedures for handling such situations.
Our bus operators are dedicated members of our community, typically upholding the high standards for customer care and service in what can sometimes be challenging circumstances. The behavior of the bus operator in this incident was unacceptable and violates our standards and values. As such, the bus operator has been removed from service, placed on unpaid leave, and we intend to dismiss him from County employment pending completion of the due process called for in County regulations.
We have been informed that the incident is under active investigation by the police, and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement. I offer my apologies to all the passengers affected by this altercation.
Montgomery County Department of Transportation
Simms was granted a $20,000 bond in court Wednesday. The judge also ordered a mental health screening for Simms and imposed a 24-hour curfew.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized after single-vehicle crash in Montgomery County
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () — A vehicle crashed in Montgomery County early Saturday morning, leaving one man seriously injured and temporarily closing part of Norbeck Road, police said. Details remain limited; however, the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) wrote in that officers responded to a crash involving one vehicle just before 4:40 a.m. in the area of Norbeck Road, between Bel Pre and Westbury roads. Crews rescue man from Potomac River in Maryland Responders took the man to the hospital for treatment. Authorities closed Norbeck Road between Bel Pre and Westbury roads as responders worked to clear the scene. Check for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
PA AG: Seven arrested in trafficking pounds of meth into Pennsylvania from New York
COUDERSPORT, Pa. (WETM) — A Coudersport man and six others were arrested in connection to a large-scale drug smuggling operation that saw pounds of meth and fentanyl enter northern Pennsylvania from New York, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday, Jr. announced the arrest of the following people on Tuesday, June 10, for their alleged involvement in the operation that spread the counties of Potter, McKean, Elk, Cameron, and Warren. Benjamin Simms, 31, of Coudersport, but currently incarcerated at a state prison in Marienville, PA. Kyle P. Brown, 39, of Emporium, PA. Marry Ann Stolburg, 61, of Ridgeway, PA. Justin Meyer, 38, of Saint Marys, PA. Beau Azzato, 20, of Saint Marys, PA. Richard Bauer, 64, of Johnsonburg, PA. Josh Dalton, 35, of Ridgeway, PA. Pennsylvanians can now carry concealed firearms in 30th state All seven were arrested on the charges of felony possession with the intent to deliver, conspiracy, and other related offenses. Attorney General Sunday said that Simms and Brown worked together while others operated alone. Simms is considered a mid-level dealer and is accused of trafficking between 30 and 40 pounds of meth in one year from New York. As mentioned above, Simms is already incarcerated in a state prison, but Brown is at the McKean County Prison on $50,000 bail. Sunday's officer is expected to prosecute Simms and Brown while the Elk County District Attorney's Office will prosecute the remaining people. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Six from Cameron and Elk County arrested for dealing meth, fentanyl
PENNSYLVANIA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Six people from Cameron and Elk County, along with one other, have been charged with dealing drugs, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday. Seven people have been arrested for allegedly selling meth and fentanyl in multiple counties of Northern Pennsylvania, including Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter and Warren counties. Here are the names of those charged: Kyle P. Brown, 39, of Emporium Marry Ann Stolburg, 61, of Ridgway Justin Meyer, 38, of Saint Marys Beau Azzato, 20, of Saint Marys Richard Bauer, 64, of Johnsonburg Josh Dalton, 35, of Ridgway Benjamin Simms, 31, of Coudersport PD: Man on meth tried to burn someone's American flag in Elk County According to a release, Simms was a mid-level dealer who was trafficking drugs from New York, while the rest were street-level dealers. They also noted that Simms and Brown were allegedly working together while the others operated independently. Each is facing charges of possession with the intent to deliver, conspiracy, and other related offenses. 'These traffickers pushed poisons into rural Pennsylvania communities,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'My mission to target drug traffickers spans the entire Commonwealth, and I commend our partners for collaboration that will have real impact in this region.' The Office of Attorney General will be prosecuting Simms and Brown, while the Elk County District Attorney's Office will prosecute the remaining defendants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
