Newark police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man accused of punching and pepper-spraying a female passenger on a NJ Transit bus following a brief dispute earlier this week.

Newark Public Safety Director released details of the Monday, Sept. 14 incident, which occurred around 7:15 p.m. aboard Bus 25 near the intersection of Bergen Street and Springfield Avenue.

According to police, the bus came to a sudden stop, causing a female rider to accidentally bump into a child who was walking past her with the suspect.

Although the woman immediately apologized, authorities say the man became enraged, shouted at her, and then struck her repeatedly in the face and head. As the victim attempted to defend herself, a physical struggle broke out, during which the suspect sprayed her in the face with pepper spray before fleeing the scene.

Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the location to flush the victim's eyes. She was subsequently transported to University Hospital for further medical treatment.