Police: Man Takes Train With Bow and Arrow

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 12:53:30 AM
By TIM MOLLOY

MONTCLAIR, Calif. (AP) - In a confrontation reminiscent of the Wild West, police shot and wounded a man who allegedly took over a freight train with a bow and arrow.

Juventino Vallejo-Camerena boarded the Union Pacific train Sunday night as it was stopped for a signal and threatened the engineer and conductor, the only people on board, police Capt. Keith Jones said.

The crew members escaped and disabled the train by turning off fuel switches, then used a cell phone to call police, Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said.

"The employees did an outstanding job," Davis said. "Their instincts took over and they did the proper thing by disabling the train."

Vallejo-Camerena was aboard the train in western San Bernardino County when officers arrived. The man cocked the bow and pointed the arrow at officers, who opened fire, Jones said.

Vallejo-Camerena suffered gunshot wounds to the left wrist and forearm that were not life-threatening, Jones said.

He was treated at a hospital, then booked into jail for investigation of train robbery, assault and resisting arrest. It wasn't known when he would make his first court appearance.

The locomotive, en route to Los Angeles from Salt Lake City, was hauling 71 cars with ocean-bound containers. No hazardous materials were on board, Davis said.