Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged assault by a school bus driver on a Lydia Hawk Elementary School pupil.
Last Wednesday, October 4, The JOLT published a story about a mother’s allegations of an assault on her 6-year-old son by the school bus driver.
Ashley Wilson alleges that a bus driver physically assaulted the young boy and was caught on the bus camera.
Wilson told the sheriff’s office that there was an incident the prior year.
Wilson told the sheriff’s office that there was an incident the prior year; the officer said, “she was suspicious that the school would try to sweep this under the rug.”
Wilson said she was told that the bus camera was not operational then, although the driver admitted to making such remarks and assured Wilson that it would not happen again.
On October 2, Wilson’s son returned home in tears, alleging that the same driver had spanked him.
Wilson promptly reported the incident to Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and was told that they would review the footage.
TCSO deputies started investigating the allegations and reviewed the bus camera on the incident's date and time.
TCSO reported that in the video, it is seen that the young boy is talking to a group of girls when he “appears to grab the hair, or possibly the bow in the hair, of one of the girls and is pulling her head.”
The officer said that in the video, the bus driver noticed what was happening in his mirror, stood up, and walked over to the children. The boy was facing the other direction, and the driver spanked the boy with an open palm and told them to sit down.
The authorities also talked with the transportation office’s supervisor, who said the bus driver informed him that he had spanked a child and wanted to report it.
The supervisor said that the bus driver is now on administrative leave pending the investigation of the incident.
The authorities contacted the bus driver to get his statement, but the bus driver chose not to speak after being read his Miranda rights.
TCSO filed the report to the prosecutor’s office stating that the bus driver “is not an authorized agent or other guardian to the boy and therefore does not have the legal authority to discipline another person’s child physically.”
The investigation by the school district is separate from the criminal investigation.
Currently, the prosecutor’s office is still reviewing the case.
1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
MowJoe
Perhaps a little more discipline at home would help this child from being unruly on the school bus. The bus driver shouldn't be punished for trying to maintain order on the school bus and protect other students from his intolerable behavior. Standing up on the bus seat is not following the rules. How many times does the bus driver have to say 'sit down' before the boy gets a swat on the but? Many of todays children are not accountable for their actions. Just look around this city and state. I agree that is really isn't the bus driver or the teachers responsibility, but what should we do when the parent does not fulfill their obligation to raise respectful youth? I can only imagine that if an unruly student is suspended from riding the bus, the parent(s) would be inconvenienced enough to apply more discipline at home to insure when the students returns to the bus they are not disruptive. Agree or disagree, make accountability a priority now. Make respect a life lesson.
Monday, October 9, 2023 Report this