MAN ARRESTED IN BUS HIJACKING - HE WAS ON METH, WANTED TO GET A PIZZA IN
VACAVILE, COPS SAY

Police said a man high on speed hijacked a bus yesterday in Fairfield,
saying he had to get to Vacaville to order a pizza before leading officers
on a slow chase through the center of town.

Timothy Owen Broudrick, 26, was arrested at 3:15 p.m., about 30 minutes
after police first learned of the alleged hijack.

Police said he boarded the Fairfield-Suisun Transit District bus on Gateway
Boulevard near the Solano Mall, asked driver Donna Varner what route the
bus would be taking and then took a seat.

When the bus reached the intersection of Beck and Woolner avenues a few
blocks away, Broudrick allegedly told Varner, ``I'm hijacking this bus,''
and pulled a large butcher knife from his waistband. He told her he needed
to get to Vacaville to order some pizza.

Broudrick allowed Varner and 10 passengers to leave, including several who
helped a blind man off the bus, police said. He then got behind the wheel
and slowly drove away from the intersection.

A California Highway Patrol officer first spotted the bus and was joined by
Fairfield police in the pursuit. A helicopter also assisted.

``He came right through the center of town,'' said Fairfield police
Lieutenant Jerry Shepherd. ``He even drove right by the police
department.''

Police said Broudrick obeyed traffic signals but got stuck trying to turn
onto congested Travis Boulevard off Webster Street. A member of a city work
crew at that intersection approached the driver's side of the bus and told
Broudrick that he should surrender. Broudrick agreed and officers arrested
him, police said. The suspect suffered minor abrasions on his head and face
during the arrest and was treated at North Bay Medical Center.

Investigators discovered the knife wedged near the driver's seat.

Broudrick talked with police after the arrest and admitted that he had
smoked a half-gram of methamphetamine before boarding the bus.

Police booked him at the Solano County Jail on suspicion of carjacking,
driving under the influence and possession of a concealed weapon.

)1998 San Francisco Chronicle

Checked-by: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)