A man with a long history of criminal incidents involving TriMet and over 20 convictions was arrested once again Thursday evening in Portland, says the Multnomah County Sheriff"s Office,
According to the MCSO, Transit Police responded to a bus shelter at SE 112th and Powell around 4:25 p.m. The caller reported a man armed with a chain was chasing people and screaming racial slurs.
By the time deputies arrived, they said the suspect had shattered glass on the shelter and set it on fire.
Portland Fire was called to the scene to put out the flames, but the shelter was destroyed.
Richard Batista, 59, was arrested on charges of arson, criminal mischief, interfering with public transportation, trespass, disorderly conduct, and menacing. Court documents reveal that this is just the latest in Batista's long list of reported TriMet violence.
In April 2021, police responded to a report that Batista was cursing and yelling at TriMet bus passengers. Documents allege he also urinated on the floor of the bus, which had to be taken out of service and cleaned.
In September 2021, Batista was arrested on several charges after allegedly attacking a TriMet driver. According to court documents, the driver told police she was in uniform and getting ready to board her bus when Batista started yelling at her. She attempted to walk away, but he threw several rocks at her, striking her in the legs and upper body. The driver contacted the police, who arrested him nearby.
In April 2022, Batista was arrested after a series of spitting incidents. Another female TriMet driver told police that Batista had spit in her face as he got off the bus at a bus stop near SE 119th and Division. Court documents report Batista also spit on another TriMet driver six days later as he boarded the bus. He also allegedly threw a rock at the bus after he exited.
In May 2023, another passenger on TriMet bus #9 told police that Batista was hitting the wall of the bus with a thermos. She did not talk to Batista, but stated as she exited the bus Batista held the thermos over herhead and said "I'm gonna beat you b----."
The passenger's account was backed up by security footage from the bus, per court documents.
According to jail records, Batista has over 20 convictions in several states including Oregon, California, and Nevada. He is due to be arraigned on his latest charges Friday afternoon.