Investigation into school bus incident continues
Police continue to investigate the school bus evacuation incident that occurred last Friday afternoon in Newton.
According to the preliminary investigation, during the ride home from school, a can of Axe body spray was punctured, requiring the bus to be evacuated. The bus driver stopped on South Kansas Avenue near SE 14th Street and asked the students to exit the bus. Initial information was that the bus was carrying 64 students; in fact, the bus had a roster of 64 but only 37 students were on the bus.
The students were told to stay with the bus, but most of them scattered. Eight students stayed with the bus, and they were taken home on the bus. The other students walked home, were picked up by police, or got other rides. All made it home safely.
A school resource officer made a preliminary review of the video footage from the bus on Friday, and the Police Department is now in the process of obtaining that video and audio evidence. Police are also interviewing the driver and each of the students.
“We understand parents’ frustration,” Chief Craig Dunlavy said. “We all want to know exactly what happened, but this will take some time to investigate thoroughly, especially with so many juveniles involved.
“Our primary focus on Friday was for the safety of all the kids. Now we have time to have more in-depth conversations and examination of the evidence. We’re investigating this like any other potentially criminal act.”
Some initial reports to police were that the incident took place in the Walmart parking lot because so many of the kids wound up there. Store staff helped gather them at customer service to be taken home.
“Kudos to the Walmart staff who helped round up the kids,” Dunlavy said. “That was a big help in accounting for them and getting them home sooner.”
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