BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Niagara Falls man was arrested and charged by criminal complaint after he allegedly tampered with a CSX railroad switch, which could have caused a derailment or damaged railroad equipment, in June and July, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
According to the complaint, on June 22, Amtrak workers reported to CSX employees that a padlock was replaced on a railroad switch at the CSX Transportation Niagara Rail Yard on 29th Street. Railroad switches allow trains to go from one track to another.
The trains that use the Niagara Rail Yard carry chlorine, sulfuric acid and bleach, officials said.
Amtrak’s switch padlock was allegedly stolen and replaced with a different padlock, which has one universal key. Due to the change in padlocks, the railway switch could not be changed in a timely manner, which resulted in a passenger train being delayed.
Surveillance cameras were installed in the area by CSX workers on June 23. In the footage, 66-year-old Charles Wilson entered the rail yard on an ATV and allegedly removed a padlock and replaced it with a different one. CSX workers then had to remove the unauthorized padlock and return the switch back to its initial position, officials said.
The attorney’s office said Wilson’s actions created an interruption and safety concern that could have resulted in a derailment of train cars containing hazardous materials.
Wilson was captured on surveillance video again on July 1 driving an ATV and allegedly moving a mechanical hand switch to a new position. He was also seen trespassing on CSX grounds on July 2 and 6.
Officials said the potential of derailment from Wilson’s actions would have been “catastrophic,” since the trains carried hazardous chemicals.
The complaint said Wilson has been under investigation by the CSX Police Department for “various issues” since 2013 and was arrested in 2014 and 2016 for criminal trespass and criminal tampering.
Wilson was charged with attempting to disable a CSX railroad switch in a manner that could cause derailment or damaged railroad equipment, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
After Wilson made his first appearance in front of a judge, he was held pending a detention hearing.
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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.
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