TAMPA, Fla. – A woman who hit and spat at two Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority employees has been arrested, deputies said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said 36-year-old Tamara West is accused of assaulting two employees Tuesday around 4 p.m. Deputies said they responded to the incident on North 27th Street.

According to HCSO, West attempted to board a fully-capacity HART bus. However, a HART supervisor at the scene told the bus driver to proceed because the bus was overcrowded.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said they learned West was angry because he couldn’t get on the bus. That’s when he struck both employees in the face and arms and spit on both of them, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Violence against our utility workers is unacceptable; they deserve to work in a safe and respectful environment,” Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said.

West fled before deputies arrived at the scene, but authorities said he was later located and taken into custody. HCSO said the woman was arrested on charges of burglary in a vehicle involving assault or battery, battery on a public transportation employee and battery on a license security officer.

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