McGruff Survives a Beat-Down

Metro bus driver charged with simple assault

By JIM IOVINO
Updated 8:15 PM EST, Tue, Mar 3, 2009

TWITTER FACEBOOK

NCinDC/flickr.com

First the Chick-fil-A cow received a beat-down in Fredericksburg, Va.  Now, someone takes a shot at everyone's favorite crime-fighting pooch. 

Word of advice for new-look Screech: Hire A-Rod's cousin ASAP.

McGruff the Crime Dog was the latest victim of the mascot mayhem.

Police said their four-legged hero absorbed a blow to the head over the weekend from a Metro bus driver in front of a group of children but didn't lose his cool, according to the Washington Examiner.

Metrobus Driver Sucker Punches McGruff: Police

Metrobus Driver Sucker Punches McGruff: Police
WATCH

Metrobus Driver Sucker Punches McGruff: Police

McGruff, who was actually District officer Tyrone Hardy in costume, was handing out flyers to kids in northwest Washington Saturday when bus driver Shawn Brim, 38, stopped, got out and adjusted his mirrors and then cold-cocked McGruff in the head with a closed fist, according to a police report.

A woozy McGruff staggered. Kids screamed. The alleged attacker hopped back on his bus and drove off.

Other police officers who were there with McGruff and watched the alleged assault quickly tracked down the bus and the driver.

Brim, 38, later told a supervisor that he was trying “to be funny,” Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith told The Examiner on Monday.

“But nobody here finds it funny, believe me,” Smith said. “That kind of behavior is not tolerated.”

Brim was charged with simple assault.

The Examiner said Hardy had a swollen cheek but was more concerned that the alleged attack disturbed the kids who saw it.

No word on whether the Racing Presidents' security team has been placed on heightened alert.

First Published: Mar 3, 2009 7:42 AM EST

TWITTER FACEBOOK

  • 0% furious 0
  • 0% sad 0
  • 0% bored 0
  • 0% thrilled 0
  • 0% intrigued 0
  • 0% laughing 0
processing
          No comments have been posted yet.

          You have 2000 characters left

          processing
          So My City

          You are posting in (change)

          550/550 characters

          (jpg, pngs, or gifs allowed)

          (jpg, pngs, or gifs allowed)
          *Tip: You can also post moments via email or Twitter.

          processing

          View Your Moment in

          Posted by | 1 second ago

          Don't Miss

          local_beat

          Nov 20, 2009

          In Mary She Trusts

          Woman leaves her life savings in the care of the Virgin Mary.

          Read It

          local_beat

          Nov 20, 2009

          Driver Dead in Miley Cyrus Va. Tour Bus Crash

          A bus driver died when a tour bus belonging to Miley Cyrus overturned, but the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star was not on board.

          Read It

          local_beat

          4 minutes ago

          Remembering Don Stumpo

          We lost a member of the NBC4 family this week.

          Loading...
          Birthdate:
          You must be at least 13 to sign up.
          Gender:
          invalid

          By clicking the button below, I accept the terms of use and privacy policy

          Already Signed Up? Login Below.

          processing
          Here's what we're posting:

          *Only used for verification. We do not store your password.
          processing