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Armani-wearing, racist, rude bus passenger catches attention of BC Transit in Whistler

Police Briefs: Car damaged, filled with frozen limes; Domestic assault arrest; driver falls asleep at the wheel
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An unidentified Whistler bus driver gets the calm, cool and collected award for a June 18 incident in which a racist and rude passenger repeatedly insulted him.

The incident was filmed by another passenger on the bus and initially posted to Facebook though it has since been removed. The video shows the obnoxious passenger boarding the bus and telling the driver: "I'm having a cigarette outside. I put it out. And I get that... Don't talk to me again tonight. You don't say another word to me and if you want to call the police, you call them... You need to understand who you work for."

The passenger goes on to yell at the driver: "Understand that I am a CUSTOMER!...Don't ever talk to me again. My suit is worth more than you make in six months."

Followed by: "You need to go back to your country," before he says to the other passenger who is recording the interchange: "Can you believe that? I own three condos...

"See this here? I'm not a bum. I want you to check this out." The video then shows the passenger walking towards the driver as he opens his suit jacket, in a gesture that appears to be geared toward showing the suit label to the driver.

"Armani. ARMANI! Twenty-six hundred dollars. I'm not a chump!" says the passenger in the video.

The rude passenger is Caucasian, about 40 years, or so, clean cut, about six feet tall (182cm) and, apparently, is wearing an Armani suit, although anyone who comes in contact with the passenger would have to check the suit label to be sure. He was also carrying a briefcase. Possibly Armani.

John Barry, BC Transit manager of corporate and online communications, said the driver handled the situation like a pro.

"In this case, he basically kept calm," said Barry, who added that the driver radioed in the incident while it was happening. The driver appeared to defuse the situation by not responding to the taunts.

Barry said BC Transit would be pleased to talk to anyone who witnessed the incident.

Frozen lime mystery

Police were left with a sour taste in their mouths last week after a vehicle was damaged and stuffed with frozen limes, according to RCMP.

At 5:30 p.m. on June 28, officers responded to a mischief complaint near Gateway Drive, where they found a 2010 Toyota Corolla with a rear window that had apparently been smashed with a frozen lime, said Sgt. Rob Knapton in a release. Other frozen limes were also found in the backseat.

"Someone had written on one of the limes as well," Knapton said. Police did not indicate what was written.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044, or BC Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Mission man arrested for domestic assault

A Mission man is facing charges after he was arrested for domestic assault this Canada Day.

At 1:30 a.m., police responded to the report in the 4300 block of Skiers Approach. The 34-year-old was apprehended and released when sober with a future court date, police said.

Police deem reported assault 'a consensual fight'

No charges have been recommended for two males who reportedly got into a fight in the village last week.

At 3 a.m. on June 29, Mounties responded to a reported assault in the 4100 block of Village Green.

"The report was a male was attacked by another male," Knapton said. "Police attended and determined that an argument had escalated into a consensual fight."

Driver falls asleep, ends up in ditch

A driver who fell asleep at the wheel was treated for injuries at the Whistler Health Care Clinic this week.

Just before 3 a.m. on July 4, police responded to a report of an accident on Highway 99 near Callaghan Valley Road. The driver, who was the lone occupant of the car, had reportedly fallen asleep before ending up in a ditch.