A now-former Central Ohio Transit Authority bus driver faces felony assault charges after bus camera footage showed him violently assaulting a rider.
Footage released by COTA on Tuesday shows Jaleel Palmer briefly exchanging words with a rider as he walked off the bus.
Another camera then shows Palmer, 30, walking behind the man outside the bus, punching him in the head from behind, and then kicking him in the head as he laid on the ground.
The incident happened near the intersection of North Champion Avenue and East Long Street on April 16. The victim reportedly suffered a broken jaw and other injuries. Palmer has since been fired.
A statement from COTA says Palmer was fired May 19.
“The incident involving a COTA operator on April 26 is inexcusable and does not represent the hundreds of hardworking and courteous transit operators who provide a valuable service to our communities every day. The operator’s employment has been terminated,” the statement said.
A document filed in Franklin County Common Pleas court on May 25 says a grand jury indicted Palmer on one count of felonious assault. He remains free on a $25,000 bond.