A Norfolk Southern train stopped in Knox on Wednesday morning after personnel found out that someone had jumped on their train.
According to Knox City Police Chief Harold Smith, officers caught up to the subject in the area of Pacific Avenue and Bender Street who was later identified as 27-year-old James Alavarez. He reportedly told police that he got on the train in New Orleans, Louisiana and rode the train 16 hours until its arrival in Knox. Alvarez was attempting to get to California to visit his ailing mother, according to the report.
The senior rail operations manager asked the officer with the Knox City Police Department arrest Alvarez on a charge of trespassing on railroad property. Alvarez was booked into the Starke County Justice Center on that preliminary charge.
Police say Alvarez was traveling with a dog and Chief Smith transported the dog to the Starke County Humane Society to be held there until further notice.
