A California man is in McKean County Jail after he allegedly started his sock on fire on a moving bus on U.S. Route 219 because he believed he was being kidnapped.
Luther H. Joiner, 64, of Gardena, Calif., is facing charges including arson and terroristic threats for the alleged event.
Joiner was arraigned before District Judge Richard Luther on five counts of arson-danger of death or bodily injury, first-degree felonies; one count of arson-intent to destroy unoccupied building; five counts of terroristic threats and one count each of reckless burning or exploding and criminal mischief, all third-degree felonies; and one summary count of disorderly conduct.
According to Lewis Run-based state police, at 10:19 a.m. Sunday, they were dispatched to the area of Route 219 and Evans Drive in Bradford Township for a report of a fire on a Fullington Trailways bus.
The criminal complaint indicated that Joiner started a fire on the bus using his socks and paper, and that another occupant had to put the fire out.
One passenger related to police that Joiner “told him he started the fire because the bus driver could not drive,” the complaint stated. Joiner told police he started the fire “because he felt like the bus driver was kidnapping (him) and this was not the correct way to Buffalo, N.Y.”
Another passenger woke up to the smell of smoke and the sound of passengers yelling. Joiner told this passenger he felt like he was being kidnapped and “he would shoot a gun if he had one,” the complaint stated.
A bus seat valued at $500 was burned, police stated.
Officials did not indicate that anyone was physically hurt. No mention was made of any fire departments being called, either.
Police listed 12 victims: Fullington School Bus LLC of Clearfield; an 18-year-old man from Pittsford, N.Y.; a 77-year-old woman from Clarence; a 28-year-old man from Pittsburgh; a 74-year-old man from Punxsutawney; a 74-year-old woman from Bellefonte; a 58-year-old woman from Dayton, Pa.; a 41-year-old man from Eden, N.Y.; a 22-year-old man from Rochester, N.Y; a 19-year-old woman from Hamburg, N.Y.; a 31-year-old man from Bolivar, N.Y.; and a 49-year-old woman from Kendall, N.Y.
Joiner is incarcerated in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday.
