A Manhattan man has pleaded not guilty to the assault of an MTA bus driver

Officials say the April 4 incident stemmed from a collision between a car allegedly driven by Thywill Anasu and an MTA bus driven by Johnny Rodriguez. They say that as both drivers exited their vehicles.

"The defendant is captured, placing the victim, an on-duty MTA bus driver, into a headlock, throwing his body to the ground, and then slamming his head and body into the ground multiple times," said prosecutor Samantha Murphy. "I myself have seen the video in this case. My client did not grab the victim and bang him on the pavement multiple times. That is an egregious mischaracterization of the evidence here," said Anasu's defense attorney in the case. Members of the Transport Workers Union attended the arraignment. "[Rodriguez] came to drive a bus, and he almost was killed. I am mad because the bail wasn't raised. This person that did this should be incarcerated until the trial, and I feel that he should've been charged with attempted murder," said TWU Local Union 100 president John Chiarello. Union members say Rodriguez was hospitalized for over a week. Anasu was released on bond, but did not offer a comment at this time. County Court Judge George Fufidio ordered a temporary order of protection on behalf of Rodriguez.