THE NEWS DESK
The News Desk is a collection of news, notes and breaking items affecting the Fredericksburg community.
School bus fracas leads to charges against student
BY KEITH EPPS
One student was incarcerated and at least two others are facing possible charges after a wild outburst on a Stafford County school bus Friday afternoon, police said.
Stafford Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy said Bus 240 was carrying students home from Brooke Point High School when the driver contacted police and requested assistance.
The driver stopped the bus near the corner of Crescent Boulevard and Allatoona Lane north of Stafford Courthouse about 2:45 p.m. because out-of-control students made it difficult for him to safely operate the bus, Kennedy said.
The Sheriff’s Office lost contact with the driver, but Kennedy said a number of students were “yelling and rowdy” when Deputy Frank Shannon arrived a short time later. Shannon first noticed two girls who were yelling at each other near the front of the bus, and he removed one of the girls from the bus after she tried to assault the other girl while the deputy was watching.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy in the back of the bus was yelling and shouting obscenities at Shannon, Kennedy said. The boy continued his tirade after Deputy Andrew Spotts arrived to assist Shannon. The boy ignored repeated demands to calm down and to get off the bus.
Shannon told the boy he was under arrest, at which point the boy shoved Shannon and returned to the back of the bus with both deputies following him, police said.
Kennedy said another student grabbed Shannon from behind as he was walking toward the rear of the bus, but backed off immediately after Spotts threatened to use his Taser. Police did use a stun device on the first boy before he was taken into custody.
The 15-year-old boy was charged with assault on a law-enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and curse and abuse. He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
The boy was not named because he is a juvenile.
Kennedy said charges are pending against the 15-year-old girl who was initially removed from the bus, and police are still trying to identify the boy who police said grabbed Shannon from behind.
Kennedy said he wasn’t sure what spurred the disturbance. Another bus was sent to take the other students home.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
kepps@freelancestar.com
