Police respond to incident involving a parent and an ESD bus driver

Published 12:04 pm Thursday, February 21, 2008

Edmonds and Lynnwood police responded Tuesday afternoon to an incident involving a parent, her child and a school bus driver, according to reports from police and the Edmonds School District

The incident began a little after 3 p.m. Tuesday at College Place Elementary school, when the parent boarded the bus her four children ride, district spokeswoman Debbie Jakala said. Soon after the parent got on the bus, an altercation occurred between her and the driver, Jakala said.

There were approximately 60 children on the bus at the time, Jakala said.

Jakala said the district and the student transportation department are investigating the incident.

In statements given to the Lynnwood police, the 30-year-old parent, Darlene Jenkins, said that there has been an ongoing problem between the children who ride that bus and the driver, and that her children have told her that the driver “calls them names and is mean.”

Jenkins said she decided to pick up her children herself and arrived at the school after they were on the bus.

Jenkins said she heard from a student about an incident involving her oldest daughter and boarded the bus to question the driver. Jenkins told police she was told her oldest child had asked to get off the bus to use the bathroom and leave her belongings on the bus. The driver told the child that wasn’t possible and threw her belongings at her while telling her to get off the bus, Jenkins told police.

According to her statement to police, Jenkins said the bus driver “pushed her with his shoulder.” Jenkins said she pushed him back and then he hit her in the face with a closed fist. At this point, the school’s dean of students boarded the bus and stopped the altercation, according to the report.

Jenkins said that during the incident, she fell on top of several students.

The bus driver, however, told police that the child had been jumping around and even after being asked to sit down several times, she refused.

The driver said he then picked up her belongings, handed them to her and asked her to get off the bus. While he was helping other students get into their seats, he told police he was hit, and knowing the blow came from an adult, he hit back. He said he did not know the adult was a woman until after the blow.

When police arrived, Jenkins requested to be taken to Steven’s Hospital for a cut to her upper lip. Jenkins said she received two stitches in her upper lip.

The bus driver suffered a facial bruise and head and neck injuries, and sought medical attention following the incident, Jakala said.