For a second night in a row, someone was stabbed near the downtown Raleigh bus transfer station.
Police said a passenger stabbed a bus driver just before 6 a.m. on Sunday on Salisbury Street, about two blocks from the main GoRaleigh station. The driver returned the bus to the station at before being taken to the hospital. Police have not made an arrest.
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On Saturday morning, a woman was stabbed there around 3:30 a.m., police said. They believe that woman knew her attacker, although they have not released the identity of either person or charged anyone with the crime.
Police asked that anyone with information about either stabbing call 919-996-1193. Anonymous tips can be sent to police through Crimestoppers at www.p3tips.com/89.
Crime concerns surround GoRaleigh hub, Moore Square
- 05/17: Moore Square crime down 50% year-to-year in downtown Raleigh, police say
- 01/23: Downtown Raleigh sees increase in reported crimes, but police say it's because of increased enforcement
- 11/30: Armed security group to beef up enforcement around Raleigh transit station
- 09/27: Business owners: Safety concerns near Raleigh transit center driving customers away
Armed officers with the Capitol Special Police (CSP) – the same group that patrols Raleigh's city hall – are assigned to the bus station and surrounding area daily from 4 a.m. until midnight after an uptick in crime – mostly nonviolent issues like misdemeanor drug violations, non-criminal offenses and simple assault – prompted worries among downtown residents and business owners.
"It's become a very serious problem," said Toko Toko, a frequent bus rider. "A lot of it I can say is due to mental health issues, homelessness [and] poverty in general ... In the 20 years I've lived here, this is not Raleigh."
The guards are trained to de-escalate tense situations; they can detain people but not make arrests. Toko said he's called the police for someone who was assaulted brutally" on three separate occasions.
WRAL News asked Raleigh city councilman Corey Branch what the city is doing to address safety concerns of bus riders. Branch is the chair of the city's transit and transportation committee.
"There's definitely more work to be done, and more work that we are doing as a city," he said.
Downtown Raleigh Alliance has also hired private security – they are not armed – for the Moore Square area in addition to Glenwood South, Fayetteville Street and Davie Street.
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Capitol Police Chief Roy Taylor said while most of the crimes happen outside of contracted hours, he is beginning to see a difference, and police aim to approach each incident on their watch with awareness.
"I've stressed to officers that we want to do everything we can to avoid putting somebody in the criminal justice system when they've obviously got some type of substance abuse problem or mental health issues."
Additionally, Branch said the city is also prioritizing programs too help with homelessness and mental health.
"We just got some funding given to our housing and neighborhoods department. They're working with community partners and nonprofits to put more boots on the ground, so to speak, that are non police," he said.