Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson today announced charges against a Kansas City man who allegedly stole a bus and led police on a chase before he was taken into custody this week.
Preston R. Reiff faces one count of Stealing, one count of 1st Degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, and one count of 1st Degree Property Damage. *
According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a bus station on Feb. 24 after a bus was reported stolen. Witness accounts and surveillance footage captured the defendant driving the bus out of the lot, striking a wall, an automatic gate, and two signs, causing an estimated $55,000 in total damage to the facility, and further damage to the bus that has yet to be calculated.
Officers tracked the bus via GPS and attempted a traffic stop but the defendant refused to pull over. Officers successfully deployed stop sticks and the defendant pulled to the shoulder. He was taken into custody without further incident.
A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $30,000 cash only.
* Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.