Woman tried punching officer on board transit bus: police

File image of a Winnipeg Transit bus

A woman is facing charges after police said she tried to punch an officer in the face on board a transit bus.

Police said it happened on Tuesday evening downtown, around Garry Street and Portage Avenue. Patrol officers were riding the bus when a woman tried getting on board without paying the fare.

“When officers intervened, the woman became violent and attempted to punch one of the officers in the face, and was taken into custody,” police said in a release, noting the officer was not injured.

The woman, 25, is facing charges including assaulting and resisting a peace officer. The allegations have not been tested in court and police said she had been released on an undertaking.

Police said the officers were riding the bus as a part of the Winnipeg Transit Violent Crime Intervention Strategy launched in September. It said so far the initiative has led to nine arrests and 41 interventions related to fare evasion.