Deputies in long standoff with man atop light rail car

ByMatt Keller and Chris Nguyen KGO logo
Friday, May 6, 2016
Deputies in long standoff with man atop VTA light rail car
Deputies are in a standoff with a man on top of a VTA light rail car, who has allegedly spit at officers.

SAN JOSE, CA -- The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Dept. is in a standoff with a man on top of a VTA light rail car, allegedly spitting at officers and saying he "wants to mess up the commute for everyone."

Police say the man climbed on top the train at 1:20 a.m. Thursday. He has been identified as 25-year-old Kyle Lewis. Authorities say he is on probation for non-violent offenses.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority officials are reporting light rail service is being impacted due the incident. It's preventing trains from going into service north of the Metro Station, officials said.

Alternate bus service is operating on the Santa Teresa/Alum Rock line between the Metro and Alum Rock stations and from the Metro to Mountain View stations on the Mountain View/Winchester line, officials said.

The sheriff's office has brought in a probation officer that specializes in mental health. The crisis negotiation team has also been trying to help in the situation.