Man accused of pulling a gun on a bus in Olympia has been arrested, police say
A 45-year-old man was arrested in Olympia on Sunday after he allegedly displayed a handgun on an Intercity Transit bus and possibly fired the gun in the air near a public park, according to police.
Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian that police were dispatched at around 2:30 p.m. March 1 to contact an Intercity Transit driver about a person who displayed a firearm on a bus. He said the driver reported that a person got on the bus and appeared to get in an argument with other riders before pulling out a handgun.
Lower said the driver was frightened by the situation and waited until the passenger got off the bus to contact law enforcement. He said officers investigated and reviewed bus security footage to see what happened. Officers were able to get a description of the man, and then another bus driver reported seeing the man at around 3:30 p.m. near Bigelow Park.
Lower said the driver believed that the man had shot the gun in the air at the park on the city’s northeast side.
He said officers began searching the park area and, while doing so, the suspect came out of a private residence nearby. Lower said officers were able to contact the man, who was eventually arrested on suspicion of brandishing a .45 caliber handgun and unlawful possession of a firearm. Officers found a gun on him at the time of arrest, Lower said.
Lower said the man was transported to the Thurston County Jail, and that OPD is still investigating whether the man discharged the firearm at Bigelow Park.
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