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Teen: MARTA Bus Driver Punched Me

A MARTA bus driver has been arrested, accused of assaulting a teenager on a bus.

Seventeen-year-old Andrew Bryant got the ride of his life -- and a black eye to go with it -- when he hopped on a MARTA bus with his girlfriend. He said he was beaten by the bus driver.

The 5’5”, 120 pound Bryant says he was no match for the 6’, 280 pound Danny Harris.

“It’s no way I’m going to try and fight a man that look like he need to be playing pro football,” lamented Andrew Bryant.

Harris was arrested and charged with battery. MARTA suspended, and plans to fire, Harris.

“This guy was simply out of control,” said community activist Derrick Boazman.

Bryant’s attorneys don’t think the battery charge fits the crime.

“And we believe that the appropriate criminal charges will be kidnapping as well as false imprisonment,” said attorney Mawuli Davis.

Bryant said the incident began after Harris heard music from another passenger’s cell phone and asked her and him to get off the bus. Bryant refused, saying he had done nothing wrong.

“So he grabbed me and threw me on the front seat and punched me a few times with a chokehold,” said Bryant.

Bryant said Harris drove off and wouldn’t let him off the bus. He jumped out of an emergency window to get away.

Harris told police Bryant was disorderly and cursed him.

“This is not the first time I’ve been mistreated on a MARTA bus. It is the first time I got actually assaulted,” said Bryant.

Channel 2 was able to reach Harris by phone and he maintained that Bryant was very disruptive.

As for the charges, a MARTA police representative said it is up to the district attorney to upgrade the battery charge if he sees fit.

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