Greyhound bus evacuated in Florida after driver reports gunman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Greyhound driver reported a gunman aboard an Orlando-bound bus Friday, forcing the evacuation of the vehicle and a partial closure of Interstate 95, officials said.

No one was hurt and no weapon was found.

The man initially refused to surrender but came off the bus after members of the sheriff's SWAT team surrounded it.

"It was a peaceful resolution. He's in custody," said Jacksonville sheriff's officer Nancy Pittmon.

Lt. Bill Leeper, a spokesman with the Florida Highway Patrol, said officials received a call about 10:30 a.m. from the driver, who reported the man had a gun.

The driver and 38 passengers on the bus were evacuated and all were safe, Greyhound spokeswoman Anna Folmnsbee said. The bus was traveling from Jacksonville to Orlando.

The bus driver pulled to the shoulder after passengers feared the man might be armed, Pittmon said. The man, wearing a black leather trench coat, was acting strangely and attempted to open the bus windows.

Police identified the man as Ralph Milton Burrows, 44, of San Luis Obispo, Calif. He was involuntary committed for a mental observation.

"What I know is that we have what's called a zero-tolerance policy. It's against any unruly or aggressive" behavior by a passenger, Folmnsbee said.

Southbound I-95 was shut down for about an hour, backing up traffic about a mile.