NYPD: Man with BB hijacks MTA bus in Queens, crashes into pole
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NEW YORK -- A man hijacked an MTA bus during the Thursday morning commute in Queens, police said. He was taken into custody after briefly driving the bus and crashing it into a utility pole.
The man, 41, boarded a Q4 bus at Linden Boulevard and 197th Street in St. Albans just before 7:30 a.m., according to police. He displayed what the driver believed was a gun, but it turned out to be a BB gun, police said.
The driver waited to let approximately two dozen passengers off the bus when the suspect ordered him to drive, police said.
The driver jumped out a window and escaped the bus near 233rd Street. The suspect got behind the wheel and crashed less than a block away, police said.
No one was seriously hurt. The suspect is facing multiple charges.
Follow this page for updates.
Interim president of bus driver's union calls for more security for drivers
Police are praising the bus driver who stayed calm as he faced a man who he believed was armed with a gun.
Exclusive new video shows the suspect running into the street on Thursday morning to stop the bus. Moments after he hops on, you see frightened passengers run off.
The wild ride stretched more than 30 blocks, from 197th Street to 233rd Street in Cambria Heights, Queens, CBS2's Tim McNicholas reported.
Video obtained by CBS2 shows the man run in front of a moving MTA bus near 197th and Linden at around 7:20 a.m. The bus stops, he climbs on the front and police say he shows something that looks like a firearm, which police now believe was a BB gun.
Then the doors open, the man gets on, and passengers start to slowly get off, and then the fearful commuters run into the street.
Once they were all off, the bus starts moving.
"Once on the bus, the male made statements that he was being chased, and directed the bus driver to continue driving," NYPD Deputy Chief John Clune said.
So he did keep driving, a mile and a half up Linden.
Police say near 232nd Street the driver was able to escape by jumping through the window of the moving bus. The suspect then got behind the wheel and drove the bus about a block, before crashing into a utility pole, causing an explosion and leaving more than 800 people without power.
"Everyone panicked because the flame. We thought the schools with all the children was going to burn," a woman said.
No children were hurt, but the bus driver did suffer minor injuries. He was treated at a hospital and released.
"When he jumped out the window, I think he landed on his finger. His finger is pretty badly cut," said Luis Alzate, the interim president of the bus driver's union.
Alzate called the driver a hero.
"He says he relives the moment over and over again, but he made it very clear to me that the passengers on the bus was paramount to him, that he wanted to make sure they were okay," Alzate said.
Alzate said the hijacking highlights a need for more security for bus drivers.
"Maybe even at some lines, where we we've seen some bus routes where we've seen that assaults have been skyrocketing, maybe even have police on some of these buses," he said.
The suspect, 41-year-old Dwayne Gaddy of Queens, was arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment, menacing, two counts of reckless endangerment, unlawful use of a vehicle, and criminal possession of a weapon.
He was transported to an area hospital for a psych evaluation.
NYPD deputy chief: "It could have been a lot worse"
An MTA bus was hijacked in Queens on Thursday morning by a man armed with a fake gun.
Police say more than a mile down the road the suspect eventually crashed into a utility pole, knocking out power to hundreds, CBS2's Kevin Rincon reported.
It was a terrifying start to the day for sure, as some two dozen passengers on a Q4 bus ran for their lives in Cambria Heights.
Police say a man with what they thought was a real gun hopped on board and demanded the driver take off.
Well, that driver worked to make sure everyone got out before the bus went anywhere. He was being praised for his quick thinking in the face of danger.
"It could have been a lot worse," NYPD Deputy Chief Jerry O'Sullivan said.
Especially when you see the aftermath of the chaotic hijacking. It ended on 233rd Street and Linden Boulevard.
The Q4 bus slammed into a utility pole, causing an explosion, and leaving more than 800 people without power.
"Everyone panicked because the flames. We thought the school with all the children was going to burn," a witness named Nadine said.
Surveillance video shows the suspect trying to flag down a bus earlier in the day, some 35 blocks west, but that driver kept going.
Minutes later, he stopped a different bus after jumping in front of it and waving what looked like a real gun.
On board, police say he told the driver he was being chased, and ordered him to keep going. The driver would eventually comply, but only after making sure everyone got off.
"He put the gun inside of his waist band. They allowed everybody from the bus to exit from the rear doors and the front doors," O'Sullivan said.
About 10 minutes after the suspect got on, the bus driver jumped out the driver-side window while it was still moving and escaped. Investigators say the suspect then climbed through a partition and took the wheel.
"And he drove the bus and hit the pole," Nadine said.
The suspect was taken to the hospital, cleared, and is now awaiting charges.
Sources told CBS2 he has a history of mental health concerns.
As for the bus driver who was praised for his actions, he was treated for minor injuries, released, and is expected to be okay.
Bus driver hailed a hero
Authorities credited the bus driver with staying calm so approximately two dozen passengers on the bus could escape safely.
"On these buses, there's a partition which separates the passengers and the bus driver. The individual got on the bus, sat directly behind the bus driver and leaned up close to that partition the whole way. So there wasn't any room for the bus driver to exit the bus with the passengers," said NYPD Chief O'Sullivan. "I definitely want to commend the driver for his actions. He did not move the bus until everyone was off that bus."
"It definitely could have been a lot worse," he went on to say. "Again, I believe the driver was calm and did a great job up until the point of collision."
The MTA said the driver is a 21-year veteran with the department.
"We're very thankful that there were no serious injuries to passengers or our bus operator," MTA Department of Buses Vice President Frank Annicaro said.
The driver was hospitalized with minor injuries after jumping out a window.
Police release photo of fake gun
Police said the suspect ran into the road with what looked like a gun, but turned out to be an imitation pistol.
Watch: NYPD update from the scene
The NYPD held a news conference shortly after noon to share the latest on the investigation and timeline.
The incident started just before 7:30 a.m. at Linden Boulevard and 197th Street in St. Albans.
Police said the 44-year-old suspect ran into the road with what looked like a gun and boarded the bus. The driver opened the doors so the passengers could get off.
Police said the suspect then told the driver he was being chased and ordered the driver to keep going. The driver continued on Linden Boulevard to 233rd Street, where he managed to jump out a window.
Police said the suspect hopped behind the wheel and crashed into a utility pole less than a block away. He was taken into custody across the street.
The driver and suspect were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Police said the gun, which turned out to be fake, was recovered on the bus.
Charges were still pending against the suspect.
Investigators ask anyone who was on the bus or may have witnessed the incident to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.