Bus driver disarms rider with flare gun during struggle at Edmonton transit station
One person was arrested on Wednesday under the Mental Health Act after a man pointed what originally appeared to be a gun at an ETS driver.
According to police, the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. at the Westmount Transit Centre at 111 Avenue and 135 Street.
The man reportedly approached the driver and reached around the plastic partition with what appeared to be a gun and pointed it at the driver.
A struggle ensued, and a passenger tried to intervene, according to police.
The bus, still in drive, crashed into the side of the transit building.
The driver was eventually able to take the weapon from the suspect, police say. It was later confirmed to be a loaded flare gun that had been spray painted black.
Police arrived on scene and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Because the man was arrested under the Mental Health Act, police are not releasing his name.
The Amalgamated Transit Union says the situation is another example of why more transit peace officers are needed.
Steve Bradshaw, president of ATU Local 569, which represents the driver, says there would have been a contract security worker at the transit centre, but that person wouldn’t have had authority to step in.
“Those people have no capacity to impose security. They’re observe and report only. So it really makes us feel like there’s not a lot of value in having them there,” he told CTV News Edmonton.
“There’s quite a bit of budget expended on having those contract security guards. Anything they do report will be long finished long before any real security people or police get there.”
Bradshaw says there are currently about 80 to 90 transit peace officers employed in Edmonton. He’d like to see the money spent on contract security used to hire more peace officers.
“These are our employees, these are people that need our protection, and if we’re not putting the right ratio of security on the system, then we’re not doing our job,” he said.
Bradshaw added that the driver is shaken up, but not physically harmed.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
“Our compliments to the operator, our member, who handled it well. We think it might have ended very differently had things gone wrong.”
Edmonton Transit Service released the following statement about the incident:
“We have zero tolerance for harassment or any forms of violence on transit. Our thoughts are with anyone who has been impacted by this incident, including riders and the operator. After the incident, peer support was offered to the operator of the bus and additional support will continue to be available to the operator. We are grateful for the EPS’ response and are also reviewing the incident internally to see if any improvements can be made.”
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s David Ewasuk.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.