Off the Rails is a documentary film about Darius McCollum, a 51-year-old New Yorker who has been arrested more than 30 times for impersonating NYC mass-transit employees — subway train conductors and bus drivers. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and known for having an encyclopedic knowledge of all-things transit related, his mother says “He can’t help it.” Plus, as many point out, “All of his crimes were victimless. He would safely make all of the stops and make the announcements.” He says he’s volunteering his time. One doctor says, “Wearing a uniform creates a sense of value for Darius.”
Corrections doesn’t know how to handle him. Darius’ parents moved to Winston-Salem and wish Darius would leave New York and all of its tempting mass transit, but due to parole conditions, Darius is restricted to living in the city. After his arrest in November 2015 (for stealing a Greyhound bus at the Port Authority), The New York Times reported that “a law enforcement official said Mr. McCollum told detectives, ‘I’m stealing a plane next.’” Off the Rails, directed by Adam Irving, will premiere on LMN on Sunday, March 26 at 8pm.
