Transit police identify and charge suspects involved in brutal bus attack

Transit Police say two people have been charged with multiple offences following a violent attack on a 61-year-old woman earlier last month.

Cristina Sasha Ponce, 28, has been taken into custody and charged with robbery, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and theft. She remains in custody.

Police have also issued a warrant for a second suspect, 34-year-old Dylan James Miranda. According to police Miranda initially turned himself in, was charged with mischief, and was let go with a promise to appear in court. But after further investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he was also charged with assault and theft.

The incident took place on March 20 on board a 96B bus at the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The victim sat next to the suspect, who was apparently saving a seat for her husband.

That led to an argument and the victim was allegedly shoved off her seat. The victim then took a picture of the woman and her husband, and that’s when things allegedly turned violent.

WATCH: Transit Police looking for couple after vicious attack

1:57 Transit Police looking for couple after vicious attack

The female suspect allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her over the back of the seat. According to Transit Police the suspect then struck her head and chest on the metal handrail repeatedly while threatening to kill her.

The male suspect then allegedly grabbed the victim’s cellphone from another passenger who had picked it up from the floor.

As the couple got off the bus at King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue, the victim tried to follow them to get her cellphone back and the male suspect threw the phone on the ground.

The victim was taken to hospital with a broken arm, a cracked sternum and head trauma.

• With files from Jon Azpiri