A 47-year-old Canton man is accused of hijacking a public transit bus at gunpoint Monday morning, ordering the driver to change the route and threatening passengers before being taken into custody, according to a report released by the Canton Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Donte Hill, 47, of Canton.
Officers were dispatched at about 11:28 a.m. Feb. 16 to the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) bus station, 112 Cherry Ave. SE, for a reported abduction. A SARTA driver told police Hill boarded a Route 110 bus, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and demanded the driver take him downtown rather than follow the scheduled route.
According to the investigative report, Hill threatened to shoot the driver if he did not comply and refused to allow passengers to exit the bus, warning he would harm them. Police said Hill ordered passengers to remain seated while the bus continued operating through the city.
The driver complied and drove the bus toward downtown Canton. Authorities said Hill remained near the front of the bus and kept a hand in his coat, at times pointing the weapon at the driver.
The driver eventually stopped near Second Street and Cleveland Avenue SW after Hill ordered him to turn and pull over. Hill was later arrested.
Officers reported recovering a handgun and clothing matching the description provided by the driver and captured on transit and city cameras.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or driver.
Hill is charged with:
Kidnapping, a first-degree felony Abduction, a third-degree felony Aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor Having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony Receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor
