Bus driver: passenger was releasing ‘odorless gas’
When a COTA driver inexplicably kicked a passenger off her bus, the only explanation Ben Purdom could think of for her actions was one of discrimination.
At the time of the incident Purdom was wearing visible eyeliner, so he assumed her actions were homophobic. His cell phone video of the incident accusing her of assault and discrimination received 65,000 views on Facebook.
The truth is a bit stranger.
It turns out the driver, Jacquelyn A. Willis, thought Purdom was releasing an “odorless gas” that was causing her to have a headache, according to a COTA investigation that concluded she did not discriminate, but that her conduct was “unbecoming a COTA employee.”
When Purdom boarded the bus Willis felt a pain in her head, which she said she felt previously when Purdom was a rider. In 2012 and 2013, Willis filed similar complaints of passengers releasing scents that caused her pain.
Willis is currently on paid administrative leave, and must undergo a medical examination before she can return to work.
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6/8/16: COTA driver accused of kicking gay passenger off bus
A COTA bus passenger says he was sitting in his seat quietly, looking at his phone, when the driver stopped the bus.
“I’m not going to accept you being on the bus and assault me,” she said on the bus security camera. “And then sit there like you’re doing nothing, but my body knows you’re doing something.”
Ben Purdom said he was confused at first, but he felt threatened by her.
He said he didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but he assumed it could have something to do with his sexuality, since he was wearing visible makeup.
Eventually a COTA supervisor arrived, but he could offer no explanation for the driver’s behavior. The supervisor drove Purdom the rest of the way to his destination.
According to Purdom, the incident meant he was 20 minutes late to work.
COTA says they are currently investigating the incident, and that they do not allow any kind of discrimination on their busses.
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