Man With Hammer Pushed Off Bus Due To Aggressive Behavior, Coronavirus Restrictions

Restrictions due to the COVID-19 have had some citizens on edge.

Oklahoma City police are looking for a man who lost his cool on Monday when he was asked to step off an Embark bus due to a new passenger limitation. Police said he threatened the bus driver with a weapon.

Embark recently limited passengers to 10 at a time on a bus. The new rule has put a strain on some passengers.

“It’s just a bad time for everybody right now in the city,” said Paul Vill, an Embark passenger. “Trying to get around.”

Vill witnessed the aftermath of one man's rage against an Embark bus.

“When I saw the window, it had a hole it about this big,” said Vill. “And it was all spider webbed out and it shook some people up I could tell. There were some people that got off the bus and you could tell they were scared.”

They witnessed a man with a hammer making threatening gestures toward an Embark bus driver. Police said on Friday, the man got the bus near NW 23rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue but was unable to catch a ride due to Embark's new COVID-19 safety precautions.

“When he was told there was too many on the bus, there was already 10 and he could have made number 11, and he was politely asked to get off,” said Sgt. Brad Gilmore, Oklahoma City Police Department.

Several passengers stepped in when they saw the man holding the hammer and standing over the bus driver.

“However, he was not able to do anything with that hammer because several citizen stepped in and pushed him off the bus,” said Gilmore.

He did not hurt anyone but Embark officials told police the suspect swung the hammer at the bus, causing about $1,000 worth of damage to the front windshield.

Police need the public’s help identifying the man in the photo.

“These are trying times but people need to understand that in these trying times, acts of violence is not the answer,” said Gilmore. “It’s going to wind up with a meeting with police.”

If you recognize the man in the picture, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300.