‘Just dazed’: 70-year-old St. Pete tram operator recalls attack
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Petersburg police said a 70-year-old pier tram operator was attacked on June 9.
The unidentified perpetrator is still at large.
The victim, often referred to as Wally, asked not to identified by his real name out of concern for his safety. He said the attack started with an argument over a stroller.
“I said I’ll take it up front where we put the wheelchair,” he said. “He got mad.”
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Wally never expected the disagreement would turn physical.
“The guy came toward me to tell me something, and I reached over to get my boss’ business card to give it to him because if you had a problem with it, call this guy,” Wally said. “Well, I never got that far.”
“I’m 200 pounds,” he said. “He picked me up like I was a doll.”
Wally said the attack came out of nowhere.
“He threw me onto one chair and then he threw me off of the tram and onto the ground,” Wally said. “I looked up and there was a circle of people around me.”
“I was just dazed,” he said. “The adrenaline wore off about an hour later and I started to realize what you — oh my God, I think I got hurt.”
St. Pete police released a photo of the man believed to be responsible.
Detectives need help identifying him, as Wally goes back to work with his head on a swivel.
“Quite honestly was different for me,” he said. “I was not at all excited, I was looking over my shoulder.”
“I didn’t know, all of a sudden I didn’t really like my job anymore,” Wally said.
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