Suspects in alleged violent assault and robbery on bus in Surrey charged with multiple offences

TWO suspects – Cristina Sasha Ponce, 28, and Dylan James Miranda, 34, both of Surrey – have been charged with multiple offences in the violent assault and robbery against a 61-year-old woman on a bus in Surrey on March 20.

The couple, apparently Hispanic / Latino, were mistaken as South Asians because of their complexion.

On March 25, Metro Vancouver Transit Police appealed to the public for help in identifying the two suspects and received over 100 tips. The victim suffered a cracked sternum and a broken arm.

On March 20, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the victim boarded the 96B bus at Surrey Central SkyTrain Station. As she reached the middle of the bus, a second woman boarded through the middle doors of the bus and took a nearby window seat.

As the victim sat down beside her in the aisle seat, an argument ensued as the second woman said she was saving the seat for her husband, who was travelling with her. She allegedly used her hip and shoulder to force the victim off the seat and onto the floor. The husband sat down in the seat as the victim got up and sat behind the couple.

The husband separated the two women and allegedly grabbed the victim’s phone from another passenger who had picked it up off the floor.

As the two suspects got off the bus at King George Boulevard and 88th Avenue, the victim tried to follow them to retrieve her phone but the man threw the phone on the ground. The suspect couple left, walking into the Bear Creek Business Plaza. Police were called.

Miranda, well known to police, turned himself in to police last week and, after being interviewed, was initially released on a promise to appear relating to a recommended charge of mischief. After a thorough review of the file, Crown Counsel later issued an arrest warrant for him for charges of assault, theft and mischief. He is scheduled to appear in Vancouver Provincial Court on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. on an unrelated matter.

Ponce, known to police, turned herself in to Transit Police on Tuesday and was interviewed by Transit Police detectives. She was charged with robbery, assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and theft. Ponce was remanded into custody with her next court appearance scheduled for Friday (April 6) at 9:30 a.m., in Surrey Provincial Court.