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Montana authorities deciding on charges in bus hijacking

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 31, 2019, 10:54 p.m.

Police arrest suspect after he exited the bus and removed his clothing on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at a bus transfer station near the Butte Civic Center in Butte, Mont. The bus was heading from Missoula to Billings when the man put a gun to the driver’s head and said he wanted to go to the Butte courthouse. The driver stopped to the Butte Civic Center instead. The hijacker, who is believed to have had an explosive device in addition to the gun, allowed the driver and passengers to get off, except for one passenger he held as a hostage. (Meagan Thompson / Montana Standard)
Police arrest suspect after he exited the bus and removed his clothing on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at a bus transfer station near the Butte Civic Center in Butte, Mont. The bus was heading from Missoula to Billings when the man put a gun to the driver’s head and said he wanted to go to the Butte courthouse. The driver stopped to the Butte Civic Center instead. The hijacker, who is believed to have had an explosive device in addition to the gun, allowed the driver and passengers to get off, except for one passenger he held as a hostage. (Meagan Thompson / Montana Standard)
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Associated Press

BUTTE – Montana authorities are deciding on charges against a 52-year-old Spokane man who they say hijacked a bus and forced a nearly 10-hour standoff with police.

The Montana Standard reported that Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester has not released the name of the man who was arrested Wednesday night.

The sheriff said he expects the man will appear in court on Friday.

Lester said the man was one of two passengers on the bus. He demanded to be taken to Butte’s courthouse and brandished a handgun.

Lester said the driver parked, got off the bus and disabled it. The gunman held the other passenger hostage for a period before releasing him.

The standoff ended when police fired an explosive device, pepper spray and tear gas, forcing the man off the bus.

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