NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The man arrested for hijacking an MTA bus in Cambria Heights on Thursday was arraigned Saturday morning, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Dwayne Gaddy, 44, used an airsoft gun that appeared to be a real firearm to take control of the Q4 MTA bus on Linden Boulevard around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to prosecutors.
Gaddy reportedly ran in front of the bus and demanded to be let on board. When the driver refused, he pulled the airsoft gun, saying, "Let me on the bus. They are trying to kill me."
A photo from the NYPD shows the imitation gun the suspect used to hijack the bus.NYPD
The driver acquiesced at gunpoint, but kept the doors open allowing the roughly 30 passengers to escape unharmed.
The defendant allegedly dictated where he wanted the driver to take the empty bus. As they drove, the driver tried to reason with his hostage taker, and, when he saw an opening, he jumped out the driver's side window near the intersection of 231st Street and Linden Boulevard.
The hijacker tried to drive the bus himself but immediately lost control and crashed into a utility pole.
Police arrested the suspect across the street from the collision and took him to a local hospital.
The MTA driver was also hospitalized to be treated for injuries he sustained jumping out of the bus.
Prosecutors charged Gaddy with grand larceny, robbery, reckless endangerment and other related offenses.
The judge ordered he be held on $500,000 cash bail.
"The alleged actions taken by this defendant not only endangered dozens of commuters, they have also further undermined our sense of safety when using public transit," said Katz. "This brazen lawlessness will not go unanswered in Queens County. Thankfully, the incident did not escalate further, thanks to the efforts of the MTA bus driver."
Gaddy's next court date is scheduled for Nov. 1.
If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
