As the depths of addiction and sorrow passed by his farebox, Mike Perrault, a TriMet bus driver for almost ten years, believed he had seen it all.
The 38-year-old stated, “We’re like social workers without any of the training or support.”
Then, on Wednesday, Perrault faced death head-on.According to court filings, an armed guy allegedly took control of his Line 4 bus and led him on a terrifying 12-minute trip through Portland’s Old Town district.
The lifelong Oregonian defused the situation, hugged the hijacker, and made it home safely to his wife and children in Oregon City despite the actual pistol to his head.
I assured him that he would be safe on my bus. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to him while he was on the bus,” Perrault stated in an interview on Thursday, regardless of whether he handed me the pistol or put it down.
According to court filings, Hosea J. Chambers gave Perrault his weapon, which he subsequently dropped out the window before running away from the transport car. Before authorities allegedly smoked Chambers out and loaded the bus with toxic agents, he allegedly stayed holed up inside for hours.
The 33-year-old is accused with kidnapping and first-degree robbery.Until a bail hearing is held, he will be in detention.
At 12:18 p.m., Perrault was transporting six passengers from St. Johns across the Steel Bridge when the terrifying experience started. At that point, he claimed to have seen a man standing on the bridgehead ramp at Northwest Glisan Street and Third Avenue holding a glinting object.
At the same time, a transit dispatcher radioed a warning about gunfire and instructed Perrault to tie up the bus, which means to use the air brake to disable it.
The man came over and hammered the front bus door’s glass with his rifle barrel. Six people fled in horror out the back as Perrault unlocked both doors, the man boarding, the brake on and no chance to drive off quickly.
He’s standing right next to me, a recording of Perrault radioing dispatch plays, a man shouting incoherently, his voice catching at the edges. You’re all right, friend. Could you just write that down?
Continue! Chambers answered.
[AUDIO: During the Old Town hijacking, a TriMet bus driver de-escalates the suspected gunman]
Perrault crawled up Glisan to Northwest Fifth Avenue, turned left, then left again down West Burnside Street, and the next four minutes seemed like an hour.
The probable cause affidavit states that Chambers became increasingly hostile and suspicious after telling officers he had been smoking fentanyl.
The man allegedly began counting: Three Two One after placing the gun to the driver’s head.
Perrault believed his death was imminent. He was aware that everything could be seen and heard by the cameras on board.
He said, “I told my kids I love them.” I wanted a recording of that for them.
Perrault retorted that Chambers also had a daughter. He was told by the shooter to turn left again onto Northwest Third Avenue, which is a one-way street, against oncoming traffic.
The unwilling chauffeur was right behind a train of flashing police cars when the bus returned to Glisan Street. Fortuitously, Chambers informed Perrault that he could halt the bus and depart.
The man at the fare box caught the driver’s attention. He was aware that if Chambers was armed, the situation would still be fatal. He claims that Chambers handed up the rifle without saying anything when he requested for it. It was thrown out of Perrault’s window.
I apologize for this, he said. “I cherish you,” Perrault recalled. I informed him that I also loved him.
Perrault hurried to a neighboring TriMet break room and contacted his wife, an administrator at the transport agency, while officers and crisis negotiators approached the lone guy on the bus.
By dark, he was back with her and their two children after the most amazing ride of his life.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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