A Montana bus driver who was warned by police that a passenger could be problematic said it was helpful that she has experience working with a mentally impaired relative when it came time to get a delusional man off of the bus this morning.
Dickinson area law enforcement arrested a passenger 18 miles east of Dickinson on the Trailways bus headed to Miles City, Mont. from Fargo at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, bus driver Cindy Ward of Miles City said.
The passenger, whose name was not released, who appeared delusional demanded to be let off the bus after calling 911. He did not have a weapon and was taken into custody, she said. No one was injured and the bus was allowed to continue on its way.
Fargo police, Ward and the passenger spoke before leaving Fargo and decided he was OK to get on the bus and travel to Miles City.
The male passenger, in his 30s, started talking to himself loudly and approached the bus driver about the music and "his sentence." She told him to return to his seat and he called 911.
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Ward said the man then charged the front of the bus and she pulled over at the Taylor exit off of Interstate 94. He started kicking the exit door demanding to be let out. Ward opened the door and he started.
"We are trained that the safety of the passengers always comes first," Ward said, adding he charged her and she held on to the rails and blocked him from returning to the bus.
She wouldn't let him past the ramp and he said if he could get his "stuff" he would then leave. Other passengers couldn't find his bag and he then asked for a light to his cigarette, Ward said.
She said she would join him off the bus and they would both have a cigarette. Once off the bus she locked the door.
Ward said he accused her of attempting to rape him. But they talked and she reasoned with him until the police showed up. Ward said once he had a cigarette, he calmed down "and really was a nice man."
The passenger had called the police at the bus station in Fargo prior to loading on the bus to report that he had been assaulted.
See Sunday's Press for more on the story.
