Inglewood bus rider to be arraigned on hate crime charges for attacking Sikh driver

INGLEWOOD — A man accused of attacking a Sikh Metro bus driver in Inglewood while shouting racial slurs is scheduled to be arraigned today.

KC Tard Jr., 34, was charged Wednesday with a felony count of battery with injury on transit persoel, with an allegation that the offense was a hate crime, according to the District Attoey’s Office. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Inglewood this moing, when he will be asked how he pleads.

Tard allegedly attacked Balwinder Jit Singh on Nov. 6 near Crenshaw and Manchester boulevards. He allegedly shouted at Singh when he boarded the bus, accusing him of hijacking the vehicle and calling him a “terrorist” and a “suicide bomber.”

When he exited the bus, he allegedly punched the driver repeatedly in the face.

Tard faces up to six years in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors. He is being held in lieu of $45,000 bail.

Metro spokesman Rick Jager said the driver is still with Metro, “but on a paid leave status at this time.”

“This was an unfortunate incident that occurred and Metro has been cooperating with the (sheriff’s department) in their investigation,” he said.

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