A man is being held for aggravated robbery after police said he carjacked an RTD bus on Federal Boulevard before crashing it on Monday.
David Solomon Garcia, 36, was arrested by Denver police on Monday after allegedly forcing a driver out of a bus while claiming he had a gun. Police said Garcia also stole a car along West Sixth Avenue Frontage Road and unsuccessfully tried stealing a car from another victim on North Lowell Boulevard, according to a probable cause statement released by police Tuesday.
The statement said Garcia was unarmed at the time of his arrest.
According to the statement, Garcia got on the bus at a southbound North Federal Boulevard stop at 6:11 p.m. and told the driver, "I have a gun. Get out of the bus." He repeated his statement before grabbing the driver and them off of the bus. Garcia then drove southbound on Federal before crashing the bus at West Sixth Avenue Frontage Road and North Lowell Boulevard at 6:19 p.m.
Garcia then allegedly tried breaking into a nearby home before attempting to get car keys from another victim. That person fought back. Garcia allegedly told the victim he had a gun and threatened to kill her.
Garcia then approached a white Hyundai Santa Fe on Westbound West Sixth Avenue Frontage Road, opening the driver side door and putting his hands on the driver's stomach, telling the victim he was going to kill her if they didn't get out of the car. The victim believed Garcia was pointing a gun into their stomach and got out of the car. Garcia then drove westbound.
At 6:31 p.m., police found the Hyundai involved in a crash at North Sheridan Boulevard and West First Street in Lakewood. Police found Garcia in the driver's seat and detained him. According to the statement, the last victim identified Garcia.
Video footage of the bus carjacking seemed to show Garcia. A similar tan baseball hat worn by the suspect in the video was later found on the passenger floorboard of the stolen Hyundai.
