BART Driver Accused of Lewd Act
By TRACI GRANT
Updated 5:45 PM PST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
A BART employee is now off the job and facing serious charges for false imprisonment and soliciting a lewd act.
According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, it all took place while he was operating the train.
Prosecutors announced Wednesday they have charged veteran BART train operator Calvin Peter Tom in connection with an incident that took place on an eastbound train headed from the Rockridge station to Orinda on August 4.
Authorities said Tom invited a female passenger and a boy into the cab of the train.
Once they were both inside, Tom allegedly asked the woman if he could fondle her breasts and then he blocked her from leaving when she refused his advances.
A BART spokesman says Tom was immediately placed on unpaid leave and escorted off the property, but the 14-year employee decided to retire before he could be disciplined.
"Even without any sexual advances and false imprisonment charges, just bringing somebody into the cab could be a termination offense," said Linton Johnson, Chief BART Spokesman.
The woman managed to get off the train in Pleasant Hill and reported the incident to BART police.
"There was also a child in the cab with this female passenger," Johnson said. "So if all of these charges are true, then he has some serious answering to do before a judge and jury if this goes to trial."
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 5:33 PM PST
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