Suspect said he worked for U.S. Homeland Security, was trying to prevent a highjacking
A Mountain Brook man was arrested Sunday in Flomaton on multiple charges after getting into an engine of a train, tampering with controls and later unhooking airlines between rail cars and causing other damage.
Randal Wayne Shugart, 45, 2508 Mountain Brook Circle, was arrested by Flomaton police and charged with criminal mischief I, breaking and entering a motorized vehicle, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said it appears Shugart had gotten into a box car somewhere north Flomaton. When the CSX train stopped near Hollywood Drive, the conductor saw someone get off the train and called police.
Assistant Police Chief Bennie Stokes responded and made contact with the suspect and told him he was trespassing and needed to leave. The suspect began walking away.
While Stokes was responding to another call, police received another call from the train that the man had returned and had entered the second engine and began tampering with the controls that alerted emergency codes which caused the train to shut down.
Thompson said Shugart then exited the engine and began unhooking airlines between the cars and throwing couplings into the woods in an attempt to unhook the cars.
Thompson said Shugart is also accused of damaging guardrails and causing significant damage to the train.
When Stokes returned and put Shugart in custody he reported finding a small bag of methamphetamine and a straw in Shugart's pocket.
Thompson said Shugart claimed he was working with homeland security and was trying to prevent the train from being hijacked.
Shugart was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center and jailed on $20,000 bond.
Thompson said an investigation is continuing with the CSX police.
