A man who carried a semiautomatic gun to an RTD light-rail stop in Denver on Tuesday, claiming to be a SWAT paramedic, faces several firearms violations. The man, Wayne Michael Thornton, 21, was charged Friday with having a firearm in a public transportation facility and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
On Tuesday, Thornton was dressed in a uniform and carrying a gun around the light-rail station at Interstate 25 and Broadway, authorities said. According to the arrest affidavit, Thornton was approached by security personnel, but claimed to be a SWAT paramedic working for a local company. RTD security officers then left and Thornton boarded the northbound train, said Scott Reed, spokesman for RTD. Further investigation led to his arrest the next day. Thornton was released on a $25,000 bond and will be in court on Sept. 2.
Reed said another incident involving Thornton was reported to RTD by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office last week: Deputies removed a gun-carrying Thornton from a bus at Southwest Plaza mall.
Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post
