13-year-old girl charged in attack on Calgary bus driver

Calgary police say three youths—one 13-year-old and two 11-year-olds—were involved in an assault against a city bus driver.

Calgary Police say three youths -- one 13-year-old girl and two 11-year-olds -- were involved in an assault against a Calgary bus driver.

In this latest incident, police seized two airsoft or replica guns and a knife.

Transit officials say they are worried about a string of violent crimes against operators, particularly incidents involving youth.

It happened on Aug. 15, just after midnight near Rundle station

Police say the bus driver reported that upon exiting her bus, three youths pointed airsoft guns and a knife at her -- and struck the outside of the bus.

Police arrested the trio on the nearby CTrain car.

The eldest of the three faces one count each of assault with a weapon, using a weapon to commit an offence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and concealing a weapon.

The two 11-year-olds can’t be charged under Canadian law and have been released to their families.

None of the three can be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

“This is not a situation that I am comfortable with or that I want to become a routine for us to be talking about (such young) offenders,” said Acting Insp. Sarah Roe with the youth services section of the Calgary Police Service.

She added that it will take a co-ordinated approach in the community to decrease criminal behaviour in Calgary youth.

“What we’re seeing with the use of these air guns, we are not going to enforce our way out of this, this is not where our energy should be,” said Roe.

She said that enforcement including charges is often a last resort when young offenders are apprehended.

The bus driver was not injured.

Second violent offence

It’s the second violent offence allegedly committed by children against a transit operator in recent weeks.

On July 29, an 11-year old young boy boarded a Calgary transit bus near Erlton station, brandished a knife and demanded the driver’s phone.

As well, Calgary transit operators are still reeling after a bus driver was brutally attacked and stabbed May 14 near Falconbridge and Castleridge boulevards.

Two adults have been charged, and the driver is still battling life-altering injuries.

Transit officials say these crimes are affecting morale.

“It doesn’t matter the age, it’s so risky, and obviously for the victim at the end of the gun that doesn’t know if that’s a real gun or not or if the trigger is being pulled,” said Mike Mahar, president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 583.

“For somebody that is a victim of assault, it impacts the co-workers, it impacts the families negatively,” he added.

Mahar says the transit union wants drivers to have shields installed to protect them.