Bridgeton man arrested in bus driver robbery

BRIDGETON – A city man was behind bars after robbing an NJ Transit bus driver at gunpoint on Christmas morning, police said.

Bail was set at $510,000 for the suspect, 43-year-old Paul L. Mack of East Commerce Street, whom police already were seeking to arrest on a long list of unrelated charges when the holdup occurred.

Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East Broad Street around 7:15 a.m. Thursday after the driver reported she was robbed while transporting a few passengers. The driver told authorities the gunman fled after she handed over cash to him, Police Chief Mark W. Ott said.

About 45 minutes later, Officer Braheme Days located Mack, whose description matched that given by the bus driver and passengers.

Mack gave a fake name to the officer in attempt to avoid arrest on outstanding warrants charging him with several offenses including sexual assault and stalking, Ott said. But police figured out his identity anyway and arrested him.

During a search related to the arrest, police found he had a hypodermic syringe and “cash in denominations like those taken during the robbery,” Ott said. A witness to the robbery also confirmed his identity, the chief said.

Mack was taken to Cumberland County Jail. He faces several charges related to the bus holdup, including robbery, weapons offenses, theft, possession of a hypodermic needle and hindering apprehension.

Officers did not find the gun used in the robbery, Ott said.

Police also arrested Mack on charges related to domestic violence incidents that occurred Dec. 6 and 15. Those offenses include sexual assault, simple assault, two counts of stalking, robbery, burglary, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.