January 2024: SBF Incident and Crime Report Roundup

Crimes and incidents involving school buses have made headlines both at the tail end of 2023 and in the beginning of 2024. Here are a few recent headlines:

• South Carolina student arrested for allegedly assaulting another student on school bus.
• Connecticut teacher arrested, accused of making violent threat toward student.
• Man carrying gun arrested after trying to board Florida school bus.
• Man arrested after reportedly forcing his way onto empty Kentucky school bus.
• Parent accused of entering Georgia school bus and threatening to arrest students.

South Carolina Student Arrested for Allegedly Asaulting Another Student on School Bus

An 18-year-old student in Spartanburg (S.C.) was arrested on child sex charges after another student told school officials he assaulted them onboard a school bus.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office told WYFF 4 that Isaiah Michael Anderson was arrested on Dec. 14, 2023. The juvenile victim reported the alleged crimes on Sept. 28 to Spartanburg School District One officials.

The victim said Anderson sexually assaulted him on a school bus on consecutive days earlier in the month. School officials immediately pulled Anderson from the bus route and placed him on homebound instruction.

The victim was referred to a local Children's Advocacy Center for a forensic interview, where a credible disclosure was made against Anderson. Video from the bus also verified a portion of the victim's allegation.

When investigators attempted to interview Anderson, he invoked his right to an attorney, who later coordinated Anderson turning himself in once the warrants were signed. He was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Anderson was released from jail 10 hours later on Dec. 14 on a $15,0000 personal recognizance bond with the condition of no contact with the victim.

The school district released a statement in response to the arrest, noting that its staff acted promptly according to district policies and procedures. It went on to say that school administration immediately contacted law enforcement and cooperated fully with the investigation.

Connecticut Teacher Arrested, Accused of Making Violent Threat Toward Student on School Bus

A Mansfield (Conn.) music teacher is accused of boarding a school bus and telling a student he would rip his face off.

The Hartford Courant reported that according to the arrest affidavit, 49-year-old Kenneth Johnson turned himself in to Connecticut State Police on Dec. 21 on charges of second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident that happened on a school bus on Nov. 15, 2023.

State Police stated that they were contacted by the victim’s mother about a week after the incident. She told a state trooper that she wanted to speak to school officials and review the bus footage before involving law enforcement.

A student at Mansfield Middle School — where Johnson serves as a music and choir teacher, the school’s website states — reportedly told police he was on the bus waiting to go home with a stick he had from a game he had created when the school bus driver told him to throw the stick out the window.

According to the affidavit, the student told investigators he refused to get rid of the stick, prompting the bus driver to take it and ask him if he wanted to get another school official involved. The boy said he accused the bus driver of “robbery” before the driver went to contact Johnson.

A review of the video footage from the bus showed that Johnson stepped onto the bus platform and told the student that if he talked back to [redacted] again, "I'll rip your face off."

The student told a state police trooper Johnson sounded “aggressive and controlling” and that the incident made him cry once he got home, the affidavit said.

Mansfield Public Schools Superintendent Peter Dart issued a letter to the district community notifying them that a staff member of the district had been arrested after being placed on administrative leave. Dart stated that the district would continue to cooperate with authorities. 

While he did not reference the incident, Dart did note that the district is "committed to the highest standards of student safety and creating respectful environments for all community members.”

Johnson was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond following his arrest.

Man Carrying Gun Arrested After Trying to Board Florida School Bus

A man was arrested after reportedly boarding a school bus in Jacksonville (Fla.) on Dec. 15.

Duval County Public Schools reported to News4Jax that 18-year-old Roy Taylor was spotted by security at Terry Parker High School around the time students were dismissed.

He was then seen boarding a bus, but was quickly approached by security and school police. That's when he reportedly became combative.

According to police documents, Taylor said he was there to escort his brother. 

After being placed in handcuffs, he said he needed to go to the restroom. There, police said a 40-cal handgun fell out of his pants. The officer heard the gun hit the floor and recovered it.

No documentation backs up Taylor's claim that he had a younger sibling at the school.

Taylor is charged with possession of a firearm on school property, resisting police, and trespassing.

No shots were fired, and no one was hurt, authorities said.

Man Arrested After Reportedly Forcing his way Onto Empty Kentucky School Bus

A man is facing charges after Glasgow, (Ky.) Police said he forced his way onto an empty school bus near the Glasgow Preschool Academy Bus Garage.

WNKY reported that 33-year-old Dustin Wooten walked up to a bus in the parking lot and allegedly forced the door open before entering.

Staff were able to remove Wooten and keep him detained until police arrived.

Wooten was arrested and charged with public intoxication – controlled substance, second-degree disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Parent Accused of Entering Georgia School Bus and Threatening to Arrest Students

An incident involving a parent reportedly entering a school bus and threatening students is under investigation. It happened at Northside Elementary School in Coweta County (Ga.).

Kristopher Elder, who works as a corrections officer and is a parent of a student, allegedly stepped aboard a school bus on Jan. 5 and spoke to students after he said his son had been bullied.

Elder reportedly mentioned a few of the students by name, telling them that "bullying is illegal," and saying he was not afraid to use his handcuffs. He is accused of threatening to arrest the students and call their parents "if it happens again."

Citing a report from the Coweta County Sheriff's Office, WSB noted that after the incident, the bus driver told Elder she would take care of it and told him not to get on the bus again.

The driver said she had to pull over because the children were scared and needed to calm down. 

WSB reported that Elder then met with the principal of Northside Elementary School and told her about getting on the bus, saying that he knew he may go to jail for his actions, but he was okay with that.

The prinicipal told WSB that she saw video from the bus and was "appalled."

Larry Clifton, warden of the Coweta County Correctional Institute, sent a statement to WSB stating that the department immediately began an internal investigation after it was made aware of the incident, calling the behavior "unacceptable."

Clifton said the department is handling the incident in accordance with its policies and is cooperating with the sheriff's office.

As of Jan. 12, Elder had not been charged in connection to the incident.