Cleveland Bus Driver Strikes Female Patron: Woman’s Actions Impacted Public Safety, But Drivers Behavior Was Even More Deplorable
Posted by David Adams on October 15th, 2012
It was a scene straight out of a Mortal Combat video game with sound affects included, when a Cleveland Transit Driver punched an irate female patron, and promptly threw her off the bus like a rag doll. The horrible ordeal was captured on another patron’s cellphone and has now gone viral on the Internet. The incident has garnered national attention with many from the public having replayed the clip over and over again while glorifying the brutality of a young woman at the hands of a male nearly three times her size. As the senseless encounter played out, the woman identified as 25 year old Shi’dea lane is seen engaged in a profanity laced verbal exchange with 59 year old RTA Transit Driver, Artis Hughes. Many witnesses say that Lane was the agitator, but a closer look at the video clip confirms that Hughes was just as irate, vile, and a willing participant in what began as a simple heated argument typically reserved for catty females. Hughes a 22 year veteran of Cleveland’s RTA Transit can be heard threatening Lane with violence. Hughes called Lane a bitch, and said “I’ll bring my daughter up here. I’ll bring my granddaughter up here to whoop your ass”. Lane did not back down and appeared to give the elderly man as much as she got. The verbal dispute escalated with Hughes telling Lane to shut up and began insulting Lane by insulting her appearance. “Look like somebody then sliced your face up” is what he said. That comment grew laughter and excitement from other young female patrons who seemed entertained and eager for more, as their boisterous outburst of laughter from the crowd hit a nerve for Lane, who appeared to become embarrassed, and set her off on an even more intense offensive. Lane then approached the driver while he was allegedly operating his transit coach in motion and engaged him in some fashion, physically (that part of the incident isn’t fully visible in the clip). According to witnesses and Hughes, Lane allegedly grabbed Hughes around his throat, and exp-orated (spit) in his face. Hughes is seen getting out of his driver’s seat, slowly walking toward Lane, and saying repeatedly, “your going to jail now”. Hughes then struck Lane with a vicious left uppercut that should have rendered the young petite female unconscious. Hughes promptly grabbed the woman and literally threw her off the bus onto the street and began throwing her property off as well. The audio of the clip depicts how suddenly and quickly the mood of onlookers changed to shock, disbelief, as they began to chastise Hughes. One woman could be heard saying “that’s a female”. Hughes defended his actions be saying, “If she wanna be a man, I’m going to treat you like a man”. When Lane got back on the bus in retaliation, Hughes could be seen with both of his hands wrapped around Lane’s throat choking her. Other patrons intervened and got the physically superior Hughes off of Lane. Lane who was visibly distraught, tried to fight back. Hughes grabbed Lane by her hair in a manner often seen when two woman are fighting. It wasn’t a pretty scene at all, and although Lane perhaps probably bit off more than she could chew when she engaged Hughes physically, the driver’s actions were excessive, and portrayed himself in what some men call bitch like. For the record and purpose of my commentary, I will admit that Lane’s act of exp-orating on Hughes is disgusting and would have angered me to the point of hostility also. However, Hughes a supposedly trained professional is mostly at fault in this incident, in my opinion. Further investigation of this story revealed that Hughes didn’t believe that Lane had money to pay her fair. He wanted her off the bus but Lane eventually did pay. How the incident escalated from a dispute over bus fare resulted in the brutalization of a black woman at the hands of a black man, is completely bewildering. I can explain my thoughts better with this summarizing of the incident:
Artis Hughes was in fact a 22 year veteran of the Cleveland Transit Service and should have had practical experience in dealing with irate or disruptive patrons. Once Lane paid her fare the dispute should have terminated. From what little we could see within both Hughes and Lane’s characters, they both appear to be strong minded individuals. However, Hughes is charged with maintaining control of his coach as well as the responsibility and the safety of patrons riding with him. In this case the young patrons who laughed and became a heckling galley, is just as much responsible for promoting the incident to it’s escalation of violence. Common sense tells me that Hughes more than likely became embarrassed by the comments from a sharp tongue Lane (Momma always said a woman can do with her mouth what a man could never do with his hands). The patrons on the bus (probably silly youth) ignited the eventual outcome that resulted in violence. Hughes is greatly at fault for not defusing the hostility. Once Lane paid her fare, he should not have engaged her in dialogue any further unless it pertained to his job. Hughes allowed his pride to get in the way and that’s when his thong reared it’s filthy and nasty head. Hughes encounters all walks of life everyday driving the bus, and Lane should have been nothing more than a routine part of the job. She paid her fare so keep it moving. The real truth is that Hughes clearly suffers from the “fuck the public” disease which he has acquired over the years from countless spats just like this one with unruly and irate patrons. Hughes was a walking time bomb as job related stress finally took it’s toll on him. Not just that though, Hughes failed to follow protocol when he allowed himself to engage a patron in an unprofessional capacity. Calling people names like bitch, and threatening to have your family come on the job to whoop their ass is undoubtedly a major violation for most work places, and most certainly on jobs where your an official functioning in a public safety capacity. People say that Lane deserved what she got and that very well may be true, but Hughes was a participant, and just because your driving a bus doesn’t mean that someone won’t tear off on your ass for running your mouth. A man his age should be well aware of how women react to being called a bitch. In some respects, Hughes got just what he deserved for being stupid enough to agitate an irate bus patron. He is lucky she only spit on him. She could have stabbed him, which has been the case in many instances with bus drivers like in New York City. Hughes’ actions place the patrons on his coach in great risk. He appeared to be a distracted bus driver when he was arguing with Lane while his coach was in motion. In fact, those hecklers on that bus are probably completely unaware just how much danger they were in. Moreover, Hughes could also be charged with assault along side Lane. Once Hughes stopped his coach, he could have stepped off of the bus and called the police. He wasn’t in any danger at that point. Lane had retreated, and any self defense claim Hughes makes will only fall flat. It’s clear that Hughes wanted revenge for being expat-ed on and choked. He allowed his pride to cost him his job. Regardless of the volume of people who sides with Artis Hughes in this incident, as a black man I have serious trouble digesting the level of violence Hughes enacted upon this woman. Our society has become so consumed with problem youth that we have allowed ourselves to be void of sound judgement in times of adversity, and we result to violence to resolve conflict by default. The argument could be made that the behavior of some adults is a direct result of violent youth behavior. I am challenged comprehending the mindset of a seasoned adult male who find it necessary to strike a woman. I could understand if Lane had some sort of weapon and Hughes or a patron on his coach were in eminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. That wasn’t the case here and he should be prosecuted along side Shi’dea Lane. Although I feel Lane’s actions arrived at a criminal level, I have traveled transit buses also, and I have first hand knowledge of running for the bus, getting on and trying to pay my fare without falling down while the bus is in motion. Why didn’t he give her the opportunity to gather her fare? I am curious what he said to her to send her in such a rage (something about food stamps, implying she was poor probably was the culprit)? Hughes could have stopped the bus and called police at any time during lane’s disruption, just like most transit operators do. Hughes failed to do that and welcomed the senseless violence that resulted. Who allows themselves to lose their job over a person they don’t even know in a situation like this. I have no compassion for him losing his job. As for Shi’dea Lane, she’s 25 and still learning. The below interview shows she has already learned a valuable lesson putting her hands on a man. Artis Hughes should have known better and is a complete disgrace to black men everywhere. One day he’ll put his hands on the right person’s daughter and perhaps he’ll get a lesson in hard knocks himself, even at his age.
David B. Adams grew up in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore's southeast district and is his parent's youngest child. He experienced pervasive poverty, which taught him humility and compassion for the plight of others. His exposure to violence and gritty urban life were some of his early lessons of life's many hardships. Adams credits the upheavals he endured during his conformity with helping to shape the foundation of his outlook and perspectives on society.
With a steadfast commitment to giving voice to the voiceless, Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and blogger renowned for tireless investigative journalism and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. As founder and administrator of The People's Champion, Adams sheds light on critical social issues, championing the rights of:
- Homeless individuals
- Victims of violent crime and their families
- Wrongfully convicted individuals
- Missing and exploited children; Additionally, he is
a seasoned investigative reporter, Adams has earned recognition for relentless pursuit of truth and justice. With a strong national and global focus, on inspiring meaningful change and crucial conversations impacting all of humanity.
It was a scene straight out of a Mortal Combat video game with sound affects included, when a Cleveland Transit Driver punched an irate female patron, and promptly threw her off the bus like a rag doll. The horrible ordeal was captured on another patron’s cellphone and has now gone viral on the Internet. The incident has garnered national attention with many from the public having replayed the clip over and over again while glorifying the brutality of a young woman at the hands of a male nearly three times her size. As the senseless encounter played out, the woman identified as 25 year old Shi’dea lane is seen engaged in a profanity laced verbal exchange with 59 year old RTA Transit Driver, Artis Hughes. Many witnesses say that Lane was the agitator, but a closer look at the video clip confirms that Hughes was just as irate, vile, and a willing participant in what began as a simple heated argument typically reserved for catty females. Hughes a 22 year veteran of Cleveland’s RTA Transit can be heard threatening Lane with violence. Hughes called Lane a bitch, and said “I’ll bring my daughter up here. I’ll bring my granddaughter up here to whoop your ass”. Lane did not back down and appeared to give the elderly man as much as she got. The verbal dispute escalated with Hughes telling Lane to shut up and began insulting Lane by insulting her appearance. “Look like somebody then sliced your face up” is what he said. That comment grew laughter and excitement from other young female patrons who seemed entertained and eager for more, as their boisterous outburst of laughter from the crowd hit a nerve for Lane, who appeared to become embarrassed, and set her off on an even more intense offensive. Lane then approached the driver while he was allegedly operating his transit coach in motion and engaged him in some fashion, physically (that part of the incident isn’t fully visible in the clip). According to witnesses and Hughes, Lane allegedly grabbed Hughes around his throat, and exp-orated (spit) in his face. Hughes is seen getting out of his driver’s seat, slowly walking toward Lane, and saying repeatedly, “your going to jail now”. Hughes then struck Lane with a vicious left uppercut that should have rendered the young petite female unconscious. Hughes promptly grabbed the woman and literally threw her off the bus onto the street and began throwing her property off as well. The audio of the clip depicts how suddenly and quickly the mood of onlookers changed to shock, disbelief, as they began to chastise Hughes. One woman could be heard saying “that’s a female”. Hughes defended his actions be saying, “If she wanna be a man, I’m going to treat you like a man”. When Lane got back on the bus in retaliation, Hughes could be seen with both of his hands wrapped around Lane’s throat choking her. Other patrons intervened and got the physically superior Hughes off of Lane. Lane who was visibly distraught, tried to fight back. Hughes grabbed Lane by her hair in a manner often seen when two woman are fighting. It wasn’t a pretty scene at all, and although Lane perhaps probably bit off more than she could chew when she engaged Hughes physically, the driver’s actions were excessive, and portrayed himself in what some men call bitch like. For the record and purpose of my commentary, I will admit that Lane’s act of exp-orating on Hughes is disgusting and would have angered me to the point of hostility also. However, Hughes a supposedly trained professional is mostly at fault in this incident, in my opinion. Further investigation of this story revealed that Hughes didn’t believe that Lane had money to pay her fair. He wanted her off the bus but Lane eventually did pay. How the incident escalated from a dispute over bus fare resulted in the brutalization of a black woman at the hands of a black man, is completely bewildering. I can explain my thoughts better with this summarizing of the incident:
Artis Hughes was in fact a 22 year veteran of the Cleveland Transit Service and should have had practical experience in dealing with irate or disruptive patrons. Once Lane paid her fare the dispute should have terminated. From what little we could see within both Hughes and Lane’s characters, they both appear to be strong minded individuals. However, Hughes is charged with maintaining control of his coach as well as the responsibility and the safety of patrons riding with him. In this case the young patrons who laughed and became a heckling galley, is just as much responsible for promoting the incident to it’s escalation of violence. Common sense tells me that Hughes more than likely became embarrassed by the comments from a sharp tongue Lane (Momma always said a woman can do with her mouth what a man could never do with his hands). The patrons on the bus (probably silly youth) ignited the eventual outcome that resulted in violence. Hughes is greatly at fault for not defusing the hostility. Once Lane paid her fare, he should not have engaged her in dialogue any further unless it pertained to his job. Hughes allowed his pride to get in the way and that’s when his thong reared it’s filthy and nasty head. Hughes encounters all walks of life everyday driving the bus, and Lane should have been nothing more than a routine part of the job. She paid her fare so keep it moving. The real truth is that Hughes clearly suffers from the “fuck the public” disease which he has acquired over the years from countless spats just like this one with unruly and irate patrons. Hughes was a walking time bomb as job related stress finally took it’s toll on him. Not just that though, Hughes failed to follow protocol when he allowed himself to engage a patron in an unprofessional capacity. Calling people names like bitch, and threatening to have your family come on the job to whoop their ass is undoubtedly a major violation for most work places, and most certainly on jobs where your an official functioning in a public safety capacity. People say that Lane deserved what she got and that very well may be true, but Hughes was a participant, and just because your driving a bus doesn’t mean that someone won’t tear off on your ass for running your mouth. A man his age should be well aware of how women react to being called a bitch. In some respects, Hughes got just what he deserved for being stupid enough to agitate an irate bus patron. He is lucky she only spit on him. She could have stabbed him, which has been the case in many instances with bus drivers like in New York City. Hughes’ actions place the patrons on his coach in great risk. He appeared to be a distracted bus driver when he was arguing with Lane while his coach was in motion. In fact, those hecklers on that bus are probably completely unaware just how much danger they were in. Moreover, Hughes could also be charged with assault along side Lane. Once Hughes stopped his coach, he could have stepped off of the bus and called the police. He wasn’t in any danger at that point. Lane had retreated, and any self defense claim Hughes makes will only fall flat. It’s clear that Hughes wanted revenge for being expat-ed on and choked. He allowed his pride to cost him his job. Regardless of the volume of people who sides with Artis Hughes in this incident, as a black man I have serious trouble digesting the level of violence Hughes enacted upon this woman. Our society has become so consumed with problem youth that we have allowed ourselves to be void of sound judgement in times of adversity, and we result to violence to resolve conflict by default. The argument could be made that the behavior of some adults is a direct result of violent youth behavior. I am challenged comprehending the mindset of a seasoned adult male who find it necessary to strike a woman. I could understand if Lane had some sort of weapon and Hughes or a patron on his coach were in eminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. That wasn’t the case here and he should be prosecuted along side Shi’dea Lane. Although I feel Lane’s actions arrived at a criminal level, I have traveled transit buses also, and I have first hand knowledge of running for the bus, getting on and trying to pay my fare without falling down while the bus is in motion. Why didn’t he give her the opportunity to gather her fare? I am curious what he said to her to send her in such a rage (something about food stamps, implying she was poor probably was the culprit)? Hughes could have stopped the bus and called police at any time during lane’s disruption, just like most transit operators do. Hughes failed to do that and welcomed the senseless violence that resulted. Who allows themselves to lose their job over a person they don’t even know in a situation like this. I have no compassion for him losing his job. As for Shi’dea Lane, she’s 25 and still learning. The below interview shows she has already learned a valuable lesson putting her hands on a man. Artis Hughes should have known better and is a complete disgrace to black men everywhere. One day he’ll put his hands on the right person’s daughter and perhaps he’ll get a lesson in hard knocks himself, even at his age.
David B. Adams grew up in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore's southeast district and is his parent's youngest child. He experienced pervasive poverty, which taught him humility and compassion for the plight of others. His exposure to violence and gritty urban life were some of his early lessons of life's many hardships. Adams credits the upheavals he endured during his conformity with helping to shape the foundation of his outlook and perspectives on society.
With a steadfast commitment to giving voice to the voiceless, Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and blogger renowned for tireless investigative journalism and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. As founder and administrator of The People's Champion, Adams sheds light on critical social issues, championing the rights of:
- Homeless individuals
- Victims of violent crime and their families
- Wrongfully convicted individuals
- Missing and exploited children; Additionally, he is
a seasoned investigative reporter, Adams has earned recognition for relentless pursuit of truth and justice. With a strong national and global focus, on inspiring meaningful change and crucial conversations impacting all of humanity.
Black women act like ladies and stop trying to fight men. Just because are in the favor of Blk women, it don’t mean you have free rage to hit, kick, and attack a man.
Blk American
11 years ago
…sorry. just because the laws are in the favor of blk women, it doesn’t mean you have free rage to hit, kick, and attack a man. During Hurricane Katrina you girls wanted to be the ladies that needed rescue but other times you want to fight your men, you want to prove he isn’t a man by calling me a bitch/ slapping him. You women start acting like ladies and hold men to a higher standard and you will get all you want and need. Blk Ladies, you know this already so this isn’t directed towards you but the hoodrats that hate themselves and their race.
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Black women act like ladies and stop trying to fight men. Just because are in the favor of Blk women, it don’t mean you have free rage to hit, kick, and attack a man.
…sorry. just because the laws are in the favor of blk women, it doesn’t mean you have free rage to hit, kick, and attack a man. During Hurricane Katrina you girls wanted to be the ladies that needed rescue but other times you want to fight your men, you want to prove he isn’t a man by calling me a bitch/ slapping him. You women start acting like ladies and hold men to a higher standard and you will get all you want and need. Blk Ladies, you know this already so this isn’t directed towards you but the hoodrats that hate themselves and their race.
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