So this bus driver has a busload of kids on the bus, gets a call from her daughter who is in a fight at her 'alternative school', abandons her route and goes to her daughters school. Leaves the kids on the bus, while it's running. In the meantime, three students from the alternative school, for some unknown reason decide to get on the bus.
Then she immediately quits when she's informed that there will be an investigation. The next day she decides that she doesn't want to quit and some group called The Fort Myers Coalition for Justice has somehow decided that this warrants a complaint filed against the Police Department.
Bus driver gives her side of story
Admits mistake, denies fighting
Grant Boxleitner
Staff
By GRANT BOXLEITNER
gboxleitner@news-press.com
Former bus driver Leslie Mae Jones said she made a mistake Thursday when she left students unattended on a running school bus.
But in an interview Saturday, she denied that being involved in a fight caused her to leave the bus.
Jones, 33, said her daughter, Olishia Green, 13, called her to say she was being threatened by the mother of the girl she got into a fight with earlier at school.
Jones said she drove to the Alternative Learning Center to check on her daughter's well-being.
The then-Fort Myers Middle bus driver said she first tried to call other people to help but couldn't get hold of anyone.
Jones said she saw her daughter in a police car on the other side of the gate. Jones said she asked Fort Myers police why her daughter was in the car but couldn't get a response.
Instead of answering, she said officers handcuffed and arrested her on breach of peace charges. She also was cited for leaving students on a running bus and leaving a bus unattended.
According to a police report, the fight had ended by the time Jones arrived at the school, which serves middle and high school students with discipline problems.
"There was never a brawl," said Jones, who paid $150 cash bond to get out of jail. "I was concerned about my daughter. I don't even know what the (other) girl looked like.
"The peace was already disturbed before I got there."
A driver for 12 months, Jones said she resigned her position under pressure from school transportation officials but may inquire about getting back her job.
If Jones rescinds her resignation, an investigation into the incident would begin, said Greg Adkins, district director of employee relations and human resources.
"It was a serious incident, and definitely an investigation is warranted regardless of a resignation," Adkins said. "(Employees) have a right to take their resignation back."
Meanwhile, James Muwakkil, president of the Fort Myers Coalition For Justice, plans to file a complaint Monday with the police department. "At no time was she a threat," Muwakkil said of Jones. "We think (officers) overreacted to Ms. Jones. She made a technical error, and she admits that."
Three other students also were arrested for allegedly getting on the unattended bus.
Then she immediately quits when she's informed that there will be an investigation. The next day she decides that she doesn't want to quit and some group called The Fort Myers Coalition for Justice has somehow decided that this warrants a complaint filed against the Police Department.
Bus driver gives her side of story
Admits mistake, denies fighting
Grant Boxleitner
Staff
By GRANT BOXLEITNER
gboxleitner@news-press.com
Former bus driver Leslie Mae Jones said she made a mistake Thursday when she left students unattended on a running school bus.
But in an interview Saturday, she denied that being involved in a fight caused her to leave the bus.
Jones, 33, said her daughter, Olishia Green, 13, called her to say she was being threatened by the mother of the girl she got into a fight with earlier at school.
Jones said she drove to the Alternative Learning Center to check on her daughter's well-being.
The then-Fort Myers Middle bus driver said she first tried to call other people to help but couldn't get hold of anyone.
Jones said she saw her daughter in a police car on the other side of the gate. Jones said she asked Fort Myers police why her daughter was in the car but couldn't get a response.
Instead of answering, she said officers handcuffed and arrested her on breach of peace charges. She also was cited for leaving students on a running bus and leaving a bus unattended.
According to a police report, the fight had ended by the time Jones arrived at the school, which serves middle and high school students with discipline problems.
"There was never a brawl," said Jones, who paid $150 cash bond to get out of jail. "I was concerned about my daughter. I don't even know what the (other) girl looked like.
"The peace was already disturbed before I got there."
A driver for 12 months, Jones said she resigned her position under pressure from school transportation officials but may inquire about getting back her job.
If Jones rescinds her resignation, an investigation into the incident would begin, said Greg Adkins, district director of employee relations and human resources.
"It was a serious incident, and definitely an investigation is warranted regardless of a resignation," Adkins said. "(Employees) have a right to take their resignation back."
Meanwhile, James Muwakkil, president of the Fort Myers Coalition For Justice, plans to file a complaint Monday with the police department. "At no time was she a threat," Muwakkil said of Jones. "We think (officers) overreacted to Ms. Jones. She made a technical error, and she admits that."
Three other students also were arrested for allegedly getting on the unattended bus.
