BANGOR, Maine – Bangor Police honored local resident John St. Germain III with a “Challenge Coin” for his role in stopping a 12-year-old who recently stole a school bus for a dangerous joy ride.

Bangor Police Sgt. Tim Cotton told the Bangor Daily News the 12-year-old boy, who was not identified because he is a minor, stole a blue school bus from the John T. Cr and Sons lot around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The keys were inside the vehicle.

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St. Germain and his girlfriend were driving when they noticed the very young bus driver swerving erratically and decided to follow and record the vehicle as it ran over curbs and hit signs heading down the road, WFLA reports.

“He’s up on the curb right now,” St. Germain’s girlfriend told dispatchers in the video. “He’s all over the road, oh my …”

Cotton told the News that when the bus stopped at the intersection of Griffin Road and Ohio Street, St. Germain boarded the bus and detained the student until police arrived.

Cotton wrote about the ordeal in a lengthy Facebook post yesterday that included St. Germain’s cell phone video.

Cotton posted:

When you are 12 years old, there is no better way to get around than climbing on a bus and just relaxing. Just letting the guy in the front take you where you need to go.

The issue that we see here is that a 12 year old is DRIVING the bus. Yes, he stole it.

Now, he would not win one of those school bus rodeos nor would he get cookies and cakes from adoring parents at the end of the year for how he conducted himself with all that precious cargo in the back. But, as a “glass half full” kind of guy, I say he did not do that badly. Sure, they might have to replace a mirror or get those sidewalls checked, but not half bad for the first time driving a bus. If…this is his first time driving a bus.

The good news or as they say in stupid seminars all over the country that I have been forced to sit through: “The Takeaway here”… is that John W. St. Germain III and his girlfriend observed this young man driving a bus and thought, “hey that kid is way too young to be driving a bus.” Common sense runs deep in a good Mainer. These two, followed the bus and called the police department. She gave a great description and we were on the way. The description was, big blue bus with a kid driving. We knew exactly what to look for.

End of story? Nope. While John’s lady friend was on the phone and driving, John waited until the school bus…(party of one) stopped at the intersection of Griffin and Ohio Streets. John bailed out of the car and ran up to the door of the bus and Ralph Kramden’d his way into the seat. “And awwwaaaay we gooooooo!” Those of you who do not know who Ralph Kramden was should just Google it. I am not answering questions about, The Great One.

John ran up to the swinging bus doors and took control of the, “blue, rolling missile of destruction.” The young man was taken into custody and John continued on his day. He probably saved much property damage and even injury or death to an innocent driver or the (not so innocent) driver of the bus.

People like John roll through this city every day. Unassuming yet willing to help at the risk of injury to himself. Thank you, John W. St. Germain III.

Now I am placing a photo of John, in the comments section just below this post. He is receiving his Bangor Police Department Challenge coin from Officer Vidaurri. The photo was taken yesterday.

Yes. In a world where they let the Kardashians have access to social media, we are unable to add a still photograph to a Facebook post that includes video. I am using all the power that is mine to make sure you get a glimpse of the hero.

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Cotton’s Facebook post was shared more than 1,700 times and solicited more than 400 comments.

The 12-year-old bus thief was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving without a license, the Daily News reports.