A man who allegedly attacked and shouted racial slurs at a Sikh Metro bus driver in Inglewood was charged Wednesday with a hate crime.
KC Tard Jr., 34, was charged with a felony count of battery with injury on transit personnel, with an allegation that the offense was a hate crime, according to the District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Inglewood.
Tard allegedly attacked the driver — Balwinder Jit Singh — on Nov. 6 near Crenshaw and Manchester boulevards. He allegedly shouted at Singh when he boarded the bus, accusing him of hijacking the vehicle and calling him a “terrorist” and a “suicide bomber.”
When he exited the bus, he allegedly punched the driver repeatedly in the face.
Tard faces up to six years in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors. He is being held in lieu of $45,000 bail.
Metro spokesman Rick Jager said the driver is still with Metro, “but on a paid leave status at this time.”
“This was an unfortunate incident that occurred and Metro has been cooperating with the (sheriff’s department) in their investigation,” he said.