10/18/2012 | By Melissa M. Werthmann | Boston Globe

MBTA Transit Police are searching for a suspect who punched a bus driver in the head and then jumped out of the window of the bus early today, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The bus was traveling on Albany Street at 5:40 a.m. when a male passenger demanded to be let off the bus. The driver refused to let the passenger off the bus because it was not an authorized bus stop, according to the MBTA. At the time, the bus was near the 700 block of Albany Street near the Boston Medical Center.

The suspect punched the driver in the side of the head, pushed the emergency window exit button, jumped out of the window, and fled, the MBTA said.

Boston EMS responded and treated the bus driver at the scene, according to the MBTA.

Transit Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect, the MBTA said.

Melissa Werthmann can be reached at melissa.werthmann@globe.com.