Full Notification

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Palmdale Station received a 911 call that a male Hispanic adult was trying to steal a Transit Authority bus with several local passengers on board. The incident took place on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at approximately 3:11 p.m. at Palmdale Boulevard and 90th Street East, Little Rock.

When deputies arrived on scene, the bus driver pointed to a man sitting in the driver’s seat of the bus, saying the man was trying to steal the bus with passengers on board.  The deputies detained the man without incident and learned that the suspect was a passenger on board the bus when the bus came to a stop at the location. When the driver vacated his seat, the suspect ran to the front and jumped in the drivers’ seat.  The suspect tried hard to get the bus into gear and drive off, while yelling to the passengers he was going to take the bus with all of them in it. 

Thanks to the fast thinking and actions of the bus driver, he was able to quickly disable the vehicle electronically, preventing the suspect from being able to drive off with the passengers on board. The suspect admitted to the deputies that he was trying to steal the bus to go and visit his family. 

Suspect Richard Martin, male Hispanic 43 years-old, was arrested for Attempted Kidnapping and Auto Theft charges, then transported and booked at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station. 

All passengers on board were unharmed, but understandably very shook up over the incident.  

For further information, contact Jodi Wolfe

Palmdale Sheriff’s Station

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

750 East Avenue Q

Palmdale, CA 93550

(661) 272-2400

Website: http://www.Palmdale.lasd.org

LASD Text & Email (Register at http://www.Nixle.com :

http://nixle.com/lasd---palmdale-station-los-angeles-county-sheriff/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmdaleSheriffsStation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PalmdaleSheriff

Forwarded by:

Deputy Trina Schrader

Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Hall of Justice - First floor 

211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-229-1700