Stolen School Bus Taken On 'Mayhem'-Causing Joyride In BK: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A Queens man who went on a dangerous joyride through the streets of Brooklyn in a stolen school bus is facing grand larceny and assault charges for the rampage, according to prosecutors.

Anthony Reyes, 43, was arraigned Friday on 43 charges stemming from the chaotic Dec. 2 ride through the borough, prosecutors said.

After stealing the bus from a driveway in East Flatbush, Reyes crashed several times into parked and occupied cars — even at one point dragging a police officer — before law enforcement were able to stop him, according to prosecutors.

“This defendant caused mayhem across several neighborhoods when he allegedly stole a school bus and crashed numerous times before being stopped by police," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "Luckily, he did not cause more serious injuries or death. We will now seek to hold him accountable for his reckless actions.”

The dramatic chase began when Reyes stole the school bus, which had keys in the ignition and the engine running, from a driveway on East 51st Street around 1:30 p.m. that day, prosecutors said.

After someone called 911 to report the stolen bus, along with its GPS location, officers saw it parked near Jackie Robinson Parkway in Cypress Hills with Reyes sitting in the front seat, prosectors said.

When they went up to him, Reyes drove away, dragging an officer who was holding onto the bus, prosectors said.

Within 30 minutes, Reyes drove through several east Brooklyn neighborhoods, smashing into the side of a building and several cars, prosecutors said.

Two of the cars still had people inside, including one with a woman who police managed to pull out before Reyes hit it a second time, dragging the car down the street, prosecutors said.

Police eventually caught up with Reyes in East New York's 75th Precinct, where he was arrested.

Reyes, who is from Jamaica, is charged with first- and second-degree attempted assault, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree reckless endangerment and other charges, according to the DA.

He is being held on bail of $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash and was ordered to return to court in March.