Man charged for hitting bus driver

A Boise man has been charged with misdemeanor battery after striking a ValleyRide driver in the mouth, Boise police say.

John Barton Miller, 35, struck driver Douglas Buckendorf, 52, the morning of July 11 after the two men exchanged words at a bus shelter at Boise Towne Square mall, police said.

A police report said Buckendorf confronted Miller as Miller was leaving the bus because Miller's flirtatious behavior with a 20-year-old woman made her feel uncomfortable.

Miller then left the scene, but police found him nearby with a cut on his right knuckle.

Buckendorf suffered visible bleeding injuries to the mouth requiring 13 stitches, according to police and Buckendorf. His upper dentures were broken in five places.

Buckendorf was taken to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, police said. Buckendorf told the Statesman that he was in the emergency room for five hours before being released.

Buckendorf said he recently learned from doctors the impact of Miller's blow damaged a nerve in his neck. That has caused tingling sensations in his left hand. He said he won't be able to return to work until at least Aug 17.

Buckendorf has been driving for Valley Ride for nine years, spokesman Mark Carnopis said.

Miller was arrested and released. He is free to ride the bus again since no court order has prohibited him, Carnopis said.

"It worries me that he's free to roam," Buckendorf said.

Local 398 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents ValleyRide bus drivers, is worried too.

Karen Newman, president of the union, said the incident highlights the need for safety for both drivers and passengers.

Newman said she is working with ValleyRide managers to develop protocols for drivers who have violent passengers. That work is going well, she said.

"We're responsible for the safety of our passengers," she said.

The Boise City Attorney's Office said Miller must appear in court on the charge. If convicted, Miller could face up to a $1,000 fine or a year in jail.

Miller was charged with misdemeanor battery and assault in another incident last November, but those charges were dismissed in March.

Andrea Schilling: 377-6439