Bus operators clash on the road and the street

Russell Santiago

In the courts, the tables have turned on Lopez Shuttle bus driver Paul Ferguson, who reported that another driver and conductor pulled weapons at him and threatened his life on Monday. The accused men, Russell Santiago and Robert Usher, who work for Belize Metro, were charged with Aggravated Assault and Threatening Words on Wednesday morning.

Robert Usher

They were released on bail at around eleven a.m. and went straight to the Queen Street Police Station to make a cross complaint. Hours later the cops moved in on Ferguson, who was today charged with Damage to Property for allegedly breaking the rear glass window a Metro bus and Common Assault upon Santiago, for allegedly punching him in the face. Ferguson pleaded not guilty and while he has similar charges pending, bail was offered in the sum of one thousand dollars, with the condition that he keeps his distance from Santiago and Usher.

paul ferguson

Ferguson’s version of the story was that the Metro bus was blocking the road and when he informed a traffic officer, Santiago drove past extremely close to him. They got into an argument and Santiago allegedly drew a knife and stabbed at him but missed. Ferguson says Usher then approached him with an ice pick and threatened to kill him.  But in his report, Santiago claims he was sitting inside his bus when Ferguson punched him twice in the face through a window. Santiago says he drove off and Ferguson threw a glass bottle at the rear window of the bus, causing it to break. Ferguson is due back in court on February seventh while Santiago and Usher will reappear on March first.