This Greyhound bus driver is travelling from Philadelphia to New York, when he offers a light-hearted retort to smart-mouthed passengers. Next thing he knows, he’s surrounded by the law. We’re still waiting for a punch line.

The bus driver hit heavy traffic shortly after leaving Philly, and toured around looking for a less congested route. According to one witness, passengers started mocking him and asking if he knew where he was going. Described as “clearly annoyed,” the driver answered, “I’m taking you to the Taliban.” That would make for a very long drive from rural America, but to a people shaped to soil their trousers at the mere sight of a Middle Easterner, nobody saw the humour. Instead, they broke out their cell phones and called 911. Within minutes, 18 squad cars had surrounded the bus. Police evacuated passengers at gunpoint. The driver was arrested and charged with creating a false public alarm. :

» Scott Saxon