McGruff Gets Roughed Up in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - McGruff the crime dog has been roughed up.

D.C. police say the mascot, who urges children to "take a bite out of crime," became a victim Saturday when a bus driver punched him in the face as he handed fliers to children.

Police say the Metro bus driver, 38-year-old Shawn Brim, climbed off the bus, adjusted both sideview mirrors and then swung at Officer Tyrone Hardy, who was dressed as McGruff. The incident happened at the corner of 14th Street and Spring Road in Columbia Heights.

Police say McGruff staggered, children screamed and the bus driver drove off. Officers quickly pulled him over and charged him with assault.

"Apparently he pulled over to adjust his mirrors and there was a McGruff mascot working with some people, and he walked over and apparently slugged the mascot," said Lisa Farbstein, a Metro spokesperson. "And I couldn't even begin to tell you what he was thinking."

"He apparently told one of the supervisors that he thought it would be funny," Farbstein continued. "But I can assure you that absolutely nobody here thinks that's funny."

Farbstein says Brim is on paid administrative leave. He has been on the job for more than five years.

"Right now, his future with our transit authority is under serious review," said Farbstein.

FOX 5 went by Brim's home in Northwest Washington on Tuesday, but he wasn't home. Court records show he has had run-ins with the law before: a 1990 arrest in the District for carrying a gun, a 1994 charge for possession of PCP, and a 2006 prostitution charge.

None of those arrests led to formal charges.

FOX 5 also visited Officer Hardy at his home on Tuesday. The 20-year MPD veteran was in good spirits, and said he was going back to work on Wednesday. He said he couldn't talk about the incident or anything else officially on camera.