Man Accused of Stealing MTA Bus
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A bizarre bus chase in the San Gabriel Valley ended Sunday morning with the arrest of a man who allegedly stole a Metropolitan Transportation Authority vehicle and even picked up passengers.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said David Ward, 50, who they believe is a transient, broke into the empty bus in Monrovia when the driver was taking a break.
Ward drove along the bus’ route, picking up between three and 10 passengers, said Sgt. Steve Petersen.
Passengers became suspicious and all got off by the time an Arcadia police officer, who used to work for the MTA, pulled a shut-off switch on the back of the bus, Petersen said.
Authorities said they would seek charges of grand theft auto and false imprisonment against Ward, who was being held on $20,000 bail.
“There were no weapons at all, he never made any threats to any people on board,” Petersen said. “He just pretended to be a bus driver.”
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