CCT Driver Suspended After Being Assaulted by Passenger for Not Following 'Protocol'

Cobb Community Transit driver, Damian Haney, has been suspended

Community members are showing support of Haney and his actions by speaking out and writing letters, like this one, to county commissioners and CCT officials.

According to news reports, county spokeswoman AikWah Leow said Haney did not follow “protocol” and was suspended with pay by Veolia Transportation, the company that provides drivers for CCT. Haney had been a CCT driver for four years.

The protocol, Leow said, is for the driver to remain seated and call CCT dispatch, who would then call 911.

A 12-minute video recording from the Route 45 bus shows Haney come to the back of the bus and demand that 21-year-old Tanisha Twyne of Mableton give back a phone she borrowed from a fellow passenger or go to jail. The incident occurred while the bus was stopped at Town Center at Cobb mall in Kennesaw.

Haney called for assistance to report the stolen phone at 3:17 p.m., one minute after he first went to the back of the bus. At 3:21 p.m., Haney calls again for help.

During this time, Twyne said she is both the Devil and Jesus Christ, lives at the White House and threatened to call President Barack Obama.

The video shows Twyne tell Haney “You’re gonna die!” before pulling out a knife at 3:24 p.m.

Haney tries to wrestle the knife from Twyne, finally pushing it to the bus floor, when Twyne grabs a pen from Haney’s pocket and repeatedly stabs him in the face with it, Cobb police stated. The video shows Twyne repeatedly kicking Haney in the head as well.

Should Haney be suspended? Were his actions appropriate for the situation? Tell us below in the comments.

Mall security arrives just before 3:26 p.m. and police arrive at 3:28, more than 10 minutes after Haney first called for help.

Haney was treated at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for his injuries, police stated.

The Marietta Daily Journal reports that Twyne was also taken to Wellstar Kennestone where when her handcuffs were removed, Twyne attempted to grab an officer’s firearm.

She is now charged with unlawful attempt to remove a firearm, along with the initial charges of aggravated assault and theft by conversion.

MDJ also reports that Twyne was indicted on two counts of obstruction of a police officer and a third charge of battery in September after she tried to hit two officers and bit a third one as they attempted to arrest her in April 2011.