Police search for victim whose hair was set on fire on board Muni bus

San Francisco police are seeking the public’s help to identify a victim who police say was assaulted on board a Muni bus Sunday afternoon.

Officers responded to the intersection of McAllister and Leavenworth streets at approximately 2:25 p.m. to reports of an incident on the 5-Fulton. When officers arrived, they spoke with the bus operator who told them a passenger’s hair was set on fire by an unidentified suspect.

Police said the suspect and acquaintances exited the bus and were last seen heading eastbound on McAllister Street. Other passengers on the bus helped the victim, but she left the scene before police arrived.

Authorities describe the victim as a female between 50 and 60 years old with dark hair and glasses.

The suspect was a male in his teens and was last seen “wearing a red long sleeve top with colored (logo) on the front, matching red pants and a black backpack,” police said.

Investigators are asking the victim to come forward to provide a statement to police.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the SFPD 24-hour Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. Tips can remain anonymous.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.