A Toronto Transit Commission bus driver has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl aboard his bus earlier this week.
According to police, a male TTC bus driver left Kipling Station with the girl and several other passengers aboard the bus Tuesday.
After the other passengers had left the bus, the driver stopped in a commercial area and let the girl sit in the driver’s seat, police said in a news release Friday.
He then sexually assaulted the girl, police allege.
The time of day the alleged assault took place was not provided by police.
In a separate statement released Friday afternoon, the TTC confirmed that an employee had been charged by police with sexual assault “alleged to have occurred on a TTC bus.”
“The allegations and charges - sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation - are incredibly serious and disturbing,” the statement said. “The TTC is co-operating fully with police; the accused is not performing any TTC duties at this time.
“Nothing is more important to the TTC than the safety and security of the customers in its care, particularly its most vulnerable,” it continues. “The TTC wants to assure the residents of Toronto, and all who rely on the TTC, that Toronto's public transit system is one of the safest and most secure in the world, with its 14,000 employees committed to the highest standard of safety and customer care.”
The TTC will not be commenting further on the matter, the release concludes.
In a subsequent statement released late Friday afternoon, Bob Kinnear, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, said the union first learned of the charges against the driver through the media today.
“As Canadians, we believe in the constitutional principle that everyone is entitled to due process under the law,” Kinnear said.
“Having said that, we are very concerned for this girl and her family and are very distressed at what they must be going through. Most of our members, including myself, are parents and all of our members will be outraged if the justice system finds that the allegation is true in any way.
“We want the public to understand that the union does not defend, or assist with the defense, of a member charged by the police with a criminal act.”
No further comment on the matter would be made by the union, Kinnear said.
On Friday afternoon, police said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Cleveland Phillips, 50, of Toronto, is charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sexual interference.
He appeared in court Friday.
Police believe there may be more victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
