County bus driver fired, charged after altercation caught on camera

MILWAUKEE -- A fight between a bus driver and a passenger on a Milwaukee County Transit bus was caught on camera, and officials say it was the bus driver who struck first! Now, he's facing criminal charges and the unemployment line.

52-year-old Thomas Igl was charged with misdemeanor battery as a result of the fight. Officials say Igl and a passenger on his bus had a history before the incident that was caught on camera. 

Video shows there was tension between Igl and the passenger, 35-year-old Temujin Kibo-Gue before the man even stepped onto the bus. The video shows Igl telling Kibo-Gue not to get on the bus unless he has the bus fare. 

From there, an argument began, and escalated when Igl stopped the bus, turned out the lights and allegedly got into a physical altercation with Kibo-Gue.

"He knocked my tooth out, and when he hit me, my lip was blown up," Kibo-Gue said.

Minutes after the fight, the video shows Igl calling someone on the phone. 

"I let this guy ride numerous times with no cards, no nothing. Finally, about a week ago, I said 'that's it. You're not riding.' He was the last one on the bus, and I just went off on him," Igl is heard saying.

The altercation cost Igl his job. 

On camera, Kibo-Gue is heard threatening to take the issue to Igl's supervisor, to which Igl resopnded: "If I get fired over you, you're dead." 

Prior to this incident, Igl had no criminal history. 

In a statement, MCTS said Igl was suspended and discharged for what they call "gross misconduct" after an internal investigation was completed. 

Igl is due back in court in January.