Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Transit Police have arrested a contract employee working for MetroAccess on sexual-offense and assault charges following an alleged incident aboard a paratransit vehicle on August 9.
Derrick Lamont Bowen, 44, of SE Washington, DC, was arrested last night by transit detectives. Bowen is an employee of Transdev Corporation, which provides MetroAccess transportation service under contract to Metro.
The alleged incident took place at approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 9, 2016, when the MetroAccess van was stopped in a church parking lot in the 12700-block of Claxton Drive in Laurel. A witness observed the driver of the van move to the rear passenger compartment where he then engaged in a sexual act with an adult female passenger. There were no other passengers aboard the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The witness called 911 and Prince George's County Police officers responded and took the driver into custody. Metro Transit Police were notified, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The MetroAccess passenger, an adult female, has an intellectual disability. A review of GPS data shows confirms that the van was stopped in the parking lot at the time of the 911 call.
MTPD detectives obtained an arrest warrant last night charging Bowen with 3rd degree sex offense, 4th degree sexual contact and 2nd degree assault. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
Anyone with information that may be helpful for detectives is urged to contact Metro Transit Police at (202) 962-2121.
