Transient accused of knocking out bus window, then attacking the driver, a passenger, and a police officer with an ice scraper

Lang
3/29/20

A local transient faces charges that she broke out the window of an Iowa City Transit bus, then used an ice scraper to attack the driver, another passenger and a police officer.

Iowa City Police were called for a passenger who was out of control on a bus parked at The Quarters on Highway 6 East just after 2:30 Saturday afternoon.

Arriving officers noticed a bus window had been broken out and was lying on the highway, as was a metal ice scraper on a four-foot handle.

An officer boarding the bus says he saw 26-year-old transient Diana Rivera throwing a backpack at a female passenger. Rivera then allegedly attacked the officer with a metal ice scraper, swinging it at him as he got on the bus. The officer ordered Rivera to the ground while pointing his taser at her.

An investigation determined that Rivera had tried to stab the bus driver with the metal end of the scraper, then attacked a female passenger by kicking her in the chest and throwing items at her. Rivera also allegedly broke an automatic door, causing an estimated $2,800 in damage.

Rivera was arrested and charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations and 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted on all charges, she faces a maximum of nine years in prison.