Three adults in Georgia face criminal charges after they forcibly entered a school bus to remove children, claiming the driver had locked them inside without air conditioning for over half an hour. The incident occurred at the Highland Trace Apartments in Lumpkin County, approximately one hour from Atlanta, as a substitute driver was dropping off students from Cottrell Elementary School on Monday, according to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, who has eight years of experience and was on the route for the first time, allowed students assigned to the first of two designated stops to exit the bus but instructed a student assigned to the second stop to return to the bus when they exited early. As the driver attempted to manage the children on the bus, parents approached and demanded that more children be let off.
The driver explained that the children needed to remain seated to continue the route, but tensions escalated. Parents gathered outside the bus, speaking to the children through the windows, leading to further disruption. The driver called the school for assistance, and another bus driver was dispatched.
The students activated the emergency-release mechanism, allowing adults to board the bus and remove the children. The adults accused the driver of keeping the children for over 30 minutes without air conditioning. However, investigators found these claims to be false and determined that the children had been misbehaving prior to leaving the school.
The children were reportedly yelling, fighting, moving between seats, throwing objects, and refusing to follow instructions, prompting school administrators and an assistant principal to intervene multiple times. Video evidence showed that these issues persisted during the route.
Investigators concluded that the children were on the bus for only 14 to 15 minutes before the second driver arrived, contradicting the parents' claims. There was no evidence that the students were intentionally held, and the air conditioning had only been temporarily turned off while the bus navigated a steep section of the route. It was turned back on before the confrontation with the parents occurred.
The sheriff’s office stated that the investigation found no evidence that the driver intentionally withheld air conditioning or ignored any medical emergencies. School policy requires students to remain seated, follow the driver’s instructions, and exit only at their designated stops. Police found no probable cause to charge the driver with a crime.
Arrest warrants were issued for three adults on Wednesday for entering the bus, disrupting its operation, and confronting the driver aggressively. April Michelle Disspain faces charges of simple battery, disrupting the operation of a public-school bus, and disorderly conduct. Tony Ray Chastain is charged with disrupting the operation of a public-school bus and disorderly conduct. Mariah Quinones faces charges for disrupting the operation of a public-school bus for allegedly removing her child without authorization. The investigation is ongoing.