JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — A man who hijacked a school bus here on Thursday morning and took police on a 10-mile chase has been taken into custody and charged, CNN reports.
The incident began when 22-year-old Nicholas John Miller allegedly demanded a car from a woman in Jacksonville, according to police Capt. Kenny Boyd. The school bus had stopped nearby, and after the woman told Miller that she did not have a car to give him, he left her and boarded the bus, armed with a knife. Miller took over the driver’s seat.
The woman called police, who found the bus and pursued it to Cabot, Ark. Police were able to stop the bus about 20 minutes after the hijacking began, Boyd told CNN. Miller was taken into custody and was charged with a felony count of vehicle piracy, 12 felony counts of kidnapping and two felony counts of aggravated assault, Jacksonville police spokeswoman April Kiser told the news outlet.
The 11 students on the bus and the bus driver were not injured in the incident. Boyd said that investigators don’t yet know why the bus was hijacked.
Fox 16 reports that this isn’t Miller’s first run-in with police. According to incident reports from the Jacksonville Police Department, officers have dealt with him three previous times this year, including once in the last 10 days, as well as an incident involving the theft of a Sherwood Police Department shotgun.
Nine days before the school bus incident, a woman told police that Miller was high on methamphetamine and had just assaulted and threatened to kill her if she took his son away, according to Fox 16.
The officer did not observe any injuries on the woman, but told her that if Miller could be located within the next four hours, they would arrest him for terroristic threatening and third-degree domestic assault. The report does not specify whether Miller was ever arrested or charged in relation to this incident, the news outlet reports.
Man hijacks Arkansas school bus
Nicholas John Miller boards the bus armed with a knife and commandeers the bus, driving it from Jacksonville, Ark., to Cabot, Ark., before police stop the bus. Miller is arrested and faces several charges, including a felony count of vehicle piracy, 12 felony counts of kidnapping and two felony counts of aggravated assault. Neither the bus driver nor the 11 students on the bus are injured.
More Safety

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
New Mexico District Receives $2.7M Grant to Expand Walking School Bus Programs
See how a federal grant will help Albuquerque Public Schools expand supervised walking routes and improve student safety.
Read More →
Florida Inventor Creates Retractable 10-Foot Stop-Arm
A newly developed school bus safety device introduces a retractable barrier designed to deter illegal passing during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
