The father of a Marion County Public Schools student was taken into custody after a viral video showed him getting on the school bus and hitting an employee.
Marion County Sheriff’s deputies say Esdras Burges-Cruz, 50, was upset that his son was suspended from riding the bus because of school referrals. “It’s always disappointing to see an adult set the wrong example for students to follow and this is that case,” shared Marion County Public Schools spokesperson, Kevin Christian. “We do not want students to follow the example that was shown in that video.
According to the report, the bus made a stop to let students off and the father hopped on the bus despite being told he was not allowed to get on. He then began yelling at the employee on the bus while waving a copy of the school referral. He handed the paper to the aide only to snatch it away a few moments later.
“Anything could’ve happened. What if that parent had a weapon and try to do something and maybe the kids jumped in,” shared parent Tammy Clarke. “Who knows somebody could’ve really go hurt seriously.”
In the process of snatching the paper, Burges-Cruz was caught on camera hitting the victim in the chest.
Lately it has been tons of stories about incidents going down on a school bus, as we previously reported, a Ohio bus driver was caught on video cussing at students because one of the students allegedly sprayed perfume on the bus.
In the viral video, which has gained over 3 million views, you can hear bus driver Jackie Miller, shouting at the kids saying “My foot’s gonna be so far up your goddamn a**.” In a new interview with WEWS Miller explained that “It is out of character for me, I’m not normally like that. I’m normally as calm as a cucumber. It just got to the point where I snapped.”
Miller says that the incident occurred because of the smell of perfume on the bus and she’s allergic to the scent. Miller also said the perfume scent caused her to have an asthma attack, WKYC reported. “That particular day was challenging to say the very least because it started the minute this core group of students got on the bus,” Miller told the outlet.
Amherst Schools Superintendent Mike Molnar said in a March 29 letter to families that Miller had resigned, according to The Morning Journal. “The behavior exhibited by the bus driver is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Molnar said. Miller told WKYC bus drivers are treated “with such lack of respect.” “I’m sorry for the way this went down, I truly am,” Miller told the outlet. “I do apologize for my actions, but I won’t take it back.”