Columbus Police Seek Teens Suspected in Multiple COTA Bus Assaults

Columbus police are actively searching for five teenage suspects involved in a series of assaults and disturbances on COTA buses, including a recent June 24 attack near Parsons Avenue and Whittier Street where a passenger was harassed and punched, leaving him bloodied and dazed. Authorities released surveillance photos of the suspects and are urging community members to provide any information to Detective T. Jones to assist in their identification and arrest. These suspects are believed to be responsible for multiple similar incidents on the city's transit system, which has seen 18 reported assaults so far this year—the highest number since 2020 when tracking began. COTA employs a three-tiered security response system and records all incidents with onboard cameras to aid law enforcement. While COTA can ban offenders temporarily, permanent bans depend on judicial outcomes after formal charges. Both Columbus police and COTA emphasize the importance of public cooperation to improve safety on public transportation.