Route 23: Chaos Erupts on Greyhound Bus
Just after 2:30 a.m. New Year’s Day, chaos erupted when a phone call to police stated that two men and one woman have a gun and were threatening at least one passenger on a southbound Greyhound bus.
Officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ross County Sheriff, Pickaway County Sheriff, and Chillicothe city police responded with full force. The 911 caller stated he heard the “click” out of a firearm and was afraid to alert the other thirty passengers aboard the bus.
The caller also gave a description of himself as the “victim” in the, seemingly, highly volatile situation.
Here is the actual radio traffic between police officials and their Dispatch Center.
Joshua Holder,26, was subsequently arrested for inducing panic. Holder is being held in the Ross County Jail. There were no other signs of weapons, hostage-takers, or near-death experiences on this bus. However, the passengers (along with the driver) must have certainly been surprised at the overwhelming response by officials.
More charges may be pending.
This is a summary of the radio traffic as the events unfolded.
Sir. I need you to start towards the County line, US 23. Got a Greyhound bus heading southbound on US 23, threatening people with a firearm. OSP is en route at this time.
Advise the Greyhound bus is threatening people with a firearm?
A gentleman on the bus has a firearm threatening subjects on the bus.
The caller on 911, afraid to say anything. He said he heard a weapon click and advised it was a code. 40
(gun). He said he’s afraid to notify anybody on the bus. He doesn’t want to make the situation any worse
than what it is.
Give us a description of a suspect again, please. Two males and a female in the back of the bus was all I
can get.
Ok. There’s going to be 5 of us approaching the bus.
A gentleman in a black Nike hoodie advised he’s the one that’s been threatened. He’s the one on the
phone with me at this time.
Do we have the bus stopped at this time?
Affirm., They got the bus stopped at southbound scales. They got about 30 people on the bus, multiple
city units and OSP and Pickaway County units out with it.
I need to know if at any point the subject advised, he actually saw a code 40 (gun). Actually saw a 40,
(and) whether he said it to you or Pickaway.
Calling Pickaway County now. All I was advised was he heard a gun click. That’s all he told me. I’m in the
process calling Pickaway County now.
Units with the traffic stop. We’ll go ahead and set them loose. We want to get out of the way and get
traffic moving again. Everything’s cleared up here.
Chaos Erupts on Greyhound Bus Chaos Erupts on Greyhound Bus