Arrest warrants have been issued for three adults following a school bus-based confrontation that resulted in a Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office investigation and a heated wave of Facebook buzz.
It was on Monday afternoon when a Lumpkin County school bus, arriving from Cottrell Elementary School, pulled to a stop at Highland Trace Apartments. Children were reportedly not allowed to leave the bus due to behavioral issues, which resulted in an intense response from nearby parents.
Soon, 911 was called.
“Deputies initially responded after receiving reports of a disturbance involving a school bus driver, students, and several adults who were waiting for children at the bus stop,” stated a release from the LCSO. “The initial investigation indicated that the bus had stopped while the driver was attempting to address disorderly and potentially unsafe conditions among students on the bus. During the incident, several adults entered the bus and a confrontation occurred between adults and the driver.”
Video of the incident, taken from afar, shows a school bus parked at the apartment complex as the sounds of crying children can be clearly heard. The video was posted to Facebook and caused considerable concern amongst the community. This later resulted in attention from the Atlanta media.
However, another video, captured by the interior bus surveillance camera provides crucial details that went unreported, according to authorities
“This is where, with social media, you can’t always bank on it,” said Sheriff Stacy Jarrard on Thursday morning.
In that video the school bus driver was attempting to maintain order as a group of children were “yelling, fighting, moving between seats, throwing objects, and refusing to follow instructions,” according to an additional release from the LCSO.
As the driver reportedly attempted to regain control, the bus pulled into the Highway 60 apartment complex.
"When bus 22-36 reached the first of two designated stops within the Highland Trace Apartments area, students assigned to that stop were permitted to exit. One student who was assigned to the second stop also exited but was directed by the driver to return to the bus," stated the release. "The driver then attempted to have the remaining students seated so the bus could proceed to their designated stop. Adults subsequently approached the bus and requested that additional children be released. The driver explained that those children were assigned to another stop and that she needed the students seated before proceeding."
The bus driver reportedly kept the door closed for approximately 15 minutes until another driver showed up to assist.
"As additional adults gathered around the bus and communicated with students through the windows, the students' behavior escalated. The driver requested assistance from school-system personnel," stated the release. "Another school-bus driver responded and entered the bus to assist. During that response, the emergency-release mechanism was operated. A student observed how the mechanism worked and subsequently opened the bus door."
It was then that a trio of adults, April Michelle Disspain, 34, Tony Ray Chastain, 35, and Mariah Quinones, 35, were reportedly caught on camera entering the bus.
“They entered the bus and two of them were using foul language in front of kids under 14 years of age,” said Jarrard.
As a result, Chastain will be charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting or interfering with the operation of a public school bus.
Disspain will face the same charges with an added charge of simple battery.
“Investigators allege that Disspain entered the occupied school bus, aggressively confronted the driver, made physical contact with the driver while forcing her way into the passenger compartment, and removed multiple children,” states the release. “Investigators further allege that Disspain used profane language during the confrontation in the presence of children.”
Quinones will be charged with disrupting or interfering with the operation of a public school bus.
“The investigation did not establish probable cause for assault, battery, threat, or disorderly-conduct charges against Quinones,” stated the release. “Investigators also found no evidence establishing that Quinones physically contacted or threatened the driver.
Meanwhile, Jarrard said he checked in with the District Attorney's Office and the Lumpkin County School System before filing the charges.
“The DA’s office reviewed it and they were the ones that said ‘Yes, go with the charges,’” he said. “And the school system said 'Yes we want this'"
The incident is still under LCSO investigation.
“The Sheriff's Office has subpoenaed additional school-system transportation and student records. Those records are being sought to conclusively identify the children present on the bus, confirm their designated stops and ages, determine which children were removed by adults other than their legal guardians, and identify any additional witnesses,” stated the LCSO release. “The Sheriff's Office will continue reviewing evidence as it becomes available and will take any additional investigative or legal action supported by the evidence.”
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