NEW YORK – A man who hijacked a loaded passenger bus in Queens last month has been officially indicted and arraigned for his actions.
Dwayne Gaddy was indicted and arraigned on charges of kidnapping, robbery and other crimes for the hijacking of a crowded MTA bus in Cambria Heights last month using what appeared to be a handgun.
Gaddy stopped the bus and pointed a gun at the driver. He then entered the bus claiming somebody was trying to kill him.
“When the operator refused to let him on the bus, the defendant then produced what appeared to be a firearm and pointed it at the vehicle. The bus operator opened the door, allowing the defendant to board, at which point Gaddy allegedly walked up and down the center aisle holding the weapon,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. ” According to video surveillance later retrieved from inside the vehicle, the bus driver is seen opening the doors so that the approximately 30 passengers could safely disembark, as the defendant stood next to the driver with the weapon.”
The approximately 30 passengers on board the bus were able to escape. The driver also managed to escape before Gaddy crashed the bus into a utility pole.
“If not for the quick-thinking bus driver remaining calm and collected under pressure, the outcome would have been far worse. We cannot allow confidence in our public transit system to be undermined and will not let this brazen lawlessness go unanswered in Queens County. The defendant has been charged accordingly and faces justice in our courts.”
According to court documents, as the bus operator continued driving the bus he attempted to reason with the defendant while opening the driver’s side window. After driving several more blocks, the driver was able to jump out of the side window, leaving the defendant alone on the bus near the intersection of 231st Street and Linden Boulevard. As alleged, the defendant immediately attempted to take the steering wheel and lost control of the bus, careening into a utility pole between 223rd and 234th Streets.