BILLINGS — Deavonta Kwame Belton of Billings has been charged after he allegedly stole a city bus and drove away with two passengers on board.
Belton, 28 years old, has been charged with felony theft and three misdemeanors in Yellowstone County Justice Court. The misdemeanors are related to unlawful restraint of the two passengers and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors said in court documents that police were notified at about 12:20 p.m. on Thursday that the Billings MET bus had been stolen from the downtown transfer station and was heading into the Heights on Main Street.
Two Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputies saw the bus, and then managed to corral it and force a stop with their patrol cars, prosecutors said.
One deputy pulled out his weapon and ordered the driver to put the bus in park. At first, Belton lurched the bus back and forth, but eventually engaged the parking brake.
The deputy then opened the door to the bus and saw the driver flailing around and speaking nonsensical gibberish, according to court documents. Belton at first resisted the deputy's command to put his hands behind his back, but did so after the deputy raised his Taser, prosecutors said.
Deputies identified the driver as Belton based on Yellowstone County Detention Center booking photos.
They spoke with the two passengers, an 89-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman, who both said they wished to press charges.
The drug paraphernalia charge is due deputies finding a gold pipe on Belton after searching him.
