Man arrested, charged with trying to steal charter bus in Glendale

A man was arrested Sunday afternoon after allegedly attempting to steal a charter bus full of elderly passengers heading on a day trip to a casino, Glendale police said.

Just before 1 p.m., police were called to California and Glendale avenues, where a bus driver and worker were loading 51 passengers on the bus, said Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

The man, who refused to identify himself and was not carrying identification, closed one of the storage doors before trying to get on the bus, though he was told he couldn’t board without a reservation.

He got on anyway and sat down in the driver seat before grabbing the steering wheel.

Passengers then grabbed him and pushed him off the bus, after which he fled northbound on Glendale Avenue on foot.

Police detained him a block away. He was charged Monday with one count of attempted vehicle theft, Lightfoot said.