Metro Vancouver Transit Police are investigating a fist fight on a Surrey bus that appears to have escalated from a dispute about wearing a mask.
The incident, which was captured on video, happened around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, near 96th Avenue and 120th Street.
According to police, a man boarded the bus without a mask on. TransLink has made wearing a mask mandatory on all modes of transit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another passenger offered the man a mask, but he declined, police said.
“The man asked the suspect if he was medically exempt from wearing a mask, and at that point, the suspect became belligerent,” said transit police in a statement.
“When the victim stood up to confront the suspect about not wearing a mask, the suspect allegedly punched the victim in the head, which led to a fight on the bus.”
The suspect eventually left the bus, and the victim was left with minor injuries including a cut above his eye, said police.
Investigators are asking anyone with information or who witnessed the fight to contact transit police.