Joyrider STEALS 123ft passenger ferry and attempts to drive himself to other end of commuter route

  • A Seattle man was arrested after he stole a large ferry boat that can carry 330 passengers and took it for a ride
  • The U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police and SWAT surrounded the vessel, while a bomb squad was also called in
  • The vessel, which carries passengers between the US and Canada, was initially thought to have gone adrift

By Daily Mail Reporter

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A Seattle man was arrested Saturday after he stole a large ferry boat and took it for a joyride prompting police to call in the bomb squad – just in case.

The vessel, a Victoria Clipper IV, can hold up to 330 passengers and travels between the U.S. and Canada.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police and SWAT surrounded the vessel, which was initially thought to be adrift on its own, in the waters near the city after police received a call early Sunday about a suspicious person stealing the vessel.

Ferry theft: A Seattle man, centre, was arrested Saturday after he stole a large ferry boat and took it for a joyride

Ferry theft: A Seattle man, centre, was arrested Saturday after he stole a large ferry boat and took it for a joyride

Surrounded: The U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police and SWAT surrounded the vessel, which was initially thought to be adrift on its own

Surrounded: The U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police and SWAT surrounded the vessel, which was initially thought to be adrift on its own

Big boat: Police regained control of the 132-foot Victoria Clipper, which can hold up to 330 passengers and travels between the U.S. and Canada

Big boat: Police regained control of the 132-foot Victoria Clipper, which can hold up to 330 passengers and travels between the U.S. and Canada

A bomb squad was also called to the scene, according to a Seattle Police Department tweet.

‘We’ve got one of the best SWAT teams on the West Coast,’ Seattle PD spokesman Sean Whitcomb told NBC affiliate KING5.

‘So when we have a call that's pretty unique like this, a major passenger boat that’s somehow adrift in the water, we want to make sure that we bring in all the resources that we have available to us to ensure that the incident comes to a quick and peaceful resolution.’

 

It is not known how the man was able to commandeer a ship of such considerable size, which is 132 feet long.

The suspect will be booked into the King County Jail for yet-to-be-determined charges, which could include piracy or grand theft vessel, according to police.

The comments below have not been moderated.

They should have let him continue his boat ride but squeezed him across the border into Canada .... then they would have had International charges and we would never have to hear from this idiot again ...

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One strange looking guy ! .

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Was the suspect from Pierce County?....

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Pierce County is well known for it's "Meth" users. This "suspect" exhibited most of the signs of a meth user.

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Maryjuana is legal in Seattle. That may have something to do with it.

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If they found him raiding the galley .....

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no-one was hurt.. thats a great story..one plucky guy

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That was one ferry bad idea ...

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Looks like someone availed himself of the state's legal marijuana before deciding a boat ride seemed like a good idea!

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