HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The man who was naked when he allegedly hijacked a school bus loaded with special-needs children is facing a multitude of charges, police said Thursday.

Larry Hightower, 26, has been charged with 14 counts of kidnapping, three counts of lewd and lascivious behaving, plus single counts of burglary, carjacking, and petty theft. He was taken to Miami-Dade County Jail early Thursday, police said.

It could not be immediately determined when Hightower would make his first court appearance. He was also being held on an outstanding domestic violence warrant.

The incident began Wednesday afternoon when Hightower broke into a home, stole a gallon of milk and ran in front of the school bus, said Lt. Tom Foglia, a Homestead police spokesman.

Hightower, whom police believe was under the influence of drugs, smashed a side window on the bus door to get inside. He then placed the female driver in a choke-hold and forced her to take him to a hospital, police said.

When the bus stopped in the parking lot of Homestead Hospital, witnesses said Hightower ran into the emergency room and jumped over a counter. They say hospital personnel subdued him and put him on a gurney.

There were 12 children from Cutler Ridge Centennial Middle School on the bus, along with the driver and an aide. No one aboard the bus was injured, Foglia said.

"At no time were our patients or employees ever in danger," the hospital said in a statement. "After the main incident was over, our main concern was the well-being of the children and the school bus driver. Fortunately, they were unharmed."

Hightower injured his hand when he smashed it into the bus door, police said.