Bus aide charged with attacking autistic student

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A school bus attendant here is facing child abuse charges after allegedly beating an 8-year-old boy with special needs on Dec. 3, deputies told the Tampa Tribune.

According to an affidavit released by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, video shows Clara McGriff hitting the boy with a water bottle and her hand while he was restrained in a body harness and pressing him against the side of a bus numerous times with her body, according to the newspaper.

The incident started after the boy threw a seat belt that was next to him and McGriff took the seat belt from him and hit him with it, deputies told Tampa Tribune. The boy continued to throw the seat belt and McGriff struck the boy on the arm with a water bottle two or three times. She used her body to press him against the bus wall and window and exchanged words with him, deputies told Tampa Tribune.

McGriff was charged with intentionally and maliciously inflicting physical pain to the boy without causing great bodily injury, according to the newspaper. She has also been suspended without pay by the Polk County School Board and Superintendent Kathryn LeRoy will recommend her termination at the school board's next meeting.

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