TORONTO — Police have identified the Hamilton, Ont. man who was arrested after a bomb scare on board a GO Transit bus on Highway 407 Saturday morning.
The bus was passing through Milton, heading from Guelph to Toronto when witnesses said a woman ran from the back of the bus to the driver. She said the man sitting next to her had told her he had a bomb.
WATCH: Suspect in custody after making bomb threat on Go Transit bus, says Metrolinx spokesperson
“She was panicked. She was scared. She looked like she was almost about to faint,” said Lucas, one of the passengers.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said the driver called Ontario Provincial Police immediately and was told to lock down the bus until police arrived.
“There was shouting. . . . It was just basically chaos and confusion,” said passenger Samuel Li.
The OPP, Peel and Halton police responded with tactical teams, canine and the explosive disposal unit.
They negotiated with the agitated man through the driver’s cell phone.
After about 20 minutes, Li said the passengers and bus driver were allowed off the bus. No one was hurt.
RAW VIDEO: aftermath of GO Transit bus evacuation on Highway 407
Police then continued to negotiate with the man until he surrendered.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said officers arrested 28-year-old Justin Roach with the help of Peel police shortly after 11 a.m.
Aikins said the passengers were taken in for questioning by police.
Highway 407 was closed in both directions between Brittania Road and Derry Road until about 4:30 p.m. as a precaution while police investigated items that Roach had left on the bus. No explosive devices were found.
Roach has been charged with one count of mischief.
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