CTA bus driver kidnapped at knifepoint on Pulaski in Belmont Gardens, escaped on Clark Street on Near North Side: Chicago police

CHICAGO (WLS) — A CTA bus driver was kidnapped at knifepoint early Wednesday morning on Chicago’s Northwest Side, police said.

A male suspect was on a southbound No. 53 CTA bus just before 2:40 a.m. in the 2400-block of North Pulaski Road in Belmont Gardens when he pulled out a knife and demanded the bus not stop, Chicago police said.

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The bus operator tripped a silent alarm, the CTA said

The bus driver, a 57-year-old woman, continued driving to the 900-block of North Clark Street on the Near North Side, where she escaped out a window after a bus supervisor located the vehicle, police said.

They drove about 6.5 miles after leaving the normal route.

The suspect got off the bus and ran into Washington Park. He was taken into custody in the 100-block of East Chestnut Street in the Gold Coast just before 3:20 a.m.

It’s unclear what the suspect wanted.

The bus was likely equipped with a clear cage to protect drivers, but the suspect was apparently able to get around the cage.

Charges are pending; no injuries were reported, police said.

Acting CTA president says crime is down from last year

The CTA had a scheduled board meeting Wednesday, where acting President Nora Leerhsen touted a significant decrease in serious crime on the transit system, starting in March.

In April, there was a 47% drop in serious crime across the system compared to last year, she said.

Buses, specifically, registered a 64% drop.

“This is coming out of a very intentional strategic deployment of our law enforcement resources in coordination with our partner the Chicago Police Department,” Leerhsen said.

According to Leerhsen, CPD’s hours on the system have increased by 75% since December alone, especially during the evening and overnight hours.

Starting in March, they were joined by Cook County sheriff’s officers.

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Perhaps the biggest improvement has come on the Red Line, from 95th Street to Roosevelt Road.

“When you look at April 2026, Red Line crime from Roosevelt to 95th Street is down over 70%,” Leerhsen said.

The security surge comes after funding threats from President Donald Trump in the wake of violent attacks on the CTA.

That included one in November of last year when Lawrence Reed allegedly set a woman on fire on the Blue Line.

Despite the encouraging news, violent crimes on the CTA, including stations and platforms, remain at a high level, with 779 violent crimes committed in a 12-month period between April of last year and this year.

Law enforcement is only one component of the CTA’s plan to improve safety on the system.

Later this summer, the transit agency will debut a pilot program that will include violence interrupters and crisis intervention specialists, who hope to help avert crime before it happens.

Some walking out of the Red Line’s Roosevelt station Wednesday weighed in on their safety.

“Now I know that if something does happen there is police right there,” Tiyanna Godfrey said.

“It’s a traveling hotel. You know what I’m saying. It is dangerous,” John said.

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