Suspect In I-94 Greyhound Bus Chase Previously Deported: Sheriff

WADSWORTH, IL — A man on a Greyhound bus who allegedly threatened to kill riders on a Greyhound bus late Friday was in the U.S. illegally and had been deported to Mexico before, according to the Racine County Sheriff.

Margarito Vargas-Rosas, 33, of Chicago, is being held at Lake County Jail pending charges of making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said Saturday. He said Vargas-Rosas works at a Milwaukee restaurant.

Vargas-Rosas was denied bond during a court appearance on Sunday. He is due back in Lake County court next week, according to ABC Chicago.

Dozens of interstate bus riders were safely evacuated and one passenger was arrested when a gunman was reported on a bus heading south from Wisconsin on I-94. Illinois state troopers joined in a pursuit that began before 10 p.m., according to police and the bus company.

One of the passengers had called 911 to say there was a man on the bus making threats to kill people, according to the Racine County sheriff's office.

Authorities shut down both directions of I-94 for a time as the bus drove south toward the Illinois state line. Multiple law enforcement vehicles could be seen pursuing the bus on an otherwise empty tollway as Illinois police prepared for a possible hostage situation.

Illinois State Police said a "disorderly and possibly armed" person had been reported on the bus in Wisconsin, and the Lake County sheriff's office confirmed a man with a gun had been reported on board.

The bus was eventually stopped using spike strips near Route 173, about two miles south of the Illinois state line.

Police said 40 passengers were safely escorted off the bus.

One suspect was taken into custody around 12:30 a.m., police said.

There were no reports of any injuries, and Greyhound said it sent a relief bus to retrieve passengers.

Earlier, Greyhound issued the following statement:

At this time, authorities from several counties are on the scene in [Wadsworth, Illionois] The bus with 50 customers on board was en route from Milwaukee to Chicago when the incident began around 9:50 p.m. CST. There have been no injuries reported. We are fully cooperating with the authorities while they work to get customers to safety.

Breaking: greyhound says 50 passengers onboard bus possibly hijacked going from MKE to Chicago.l . It is stopped in wadsworth. No injuries reported this far. @fox6now
— Ben Handelman (@BenHandelman) January 13, 2018

BREAKING: view of the Greyhound bus involved in a pursuit. Dozens of officers out here on I94 near Rosecrans. Traffic stopped in both directions @WISN12News @shooter412 pic.twitter.com/G87zvU0eW1
— Ben Hutchison (@WISNBennyHutch) January 13, 2018

Possible hostage situation on Greyhound bus. Bus started in MKE— then SB on 94. Stopped by spike strips near Rosecrans Rd on I94 abt 2 mi south of IL border. Greyhound says all 50 passengers off bus & OK. Relief bus en route to pick them up. pic.twitter.com/KdlehJR7CJ
— Brad Hicks (@BradHicksFox6) January 13, 2018

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Patch Editor Scott Anderson contributed from Wisconsin

_{Photos: Racine County Sheriff}