August 22, 2024

Los Angeles, CA – Early Sunday morning, a passenger on an E Line Metro train was sexually assaulted near the Culver City Station. The victim contacted the train operator through the train’s emergency call function. The operator halted the train, searched for the victim and suspect, and remained with them while contacting law enforcement. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrived within minutes and arrested the suspect.

Today, LA County Supervisor and current Metro Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement:

“I am so thankful for this brave train operator who took action when one of their passengers needed help. I’m also glad that law enforcement arrived quickly and took the suspect into custody.

But once again we’re reminded that we urgently need to prevent violent crime in our system, not simply respond to it. I want our uniformed law enforcement officers assigned to Metro and our transit security officers to be riding our buses and trains, not waiting at stations or in their cars to respond once a crime has been committed.”