Louisiana School Bus Driver Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting Student Captured On Video

Video captures Louisiana school bus driver strike a student aboard the vehicle.

A Louisiana school bus driver was arrested after he allegedly struck and choked one of the students aboard the vehicle. The attack was captured on cell phone video.

According to Fox 8 Live, 77-year-old Miles Jenkins faces a simple battery charge after officers from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested him following the incident. The student who was allegedly attacked attends Marrero Middle School, and the incident took place on Oct. 31. Jenkins reportedly resigned the next day.

First Student employed Jenkins, and the company released a statement after the incident.

“At First Student, we take our responsibility to provide a safe environment on our school buses very seriously. The interaction the driver had with the student was unacceptable. He has resigned. Given this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment further,” the statement read.

Police officers arrested Jenkins after a family member of the student called the police department. Video captured by a student on the bus shows Jenkins shoving the student. As the student tries to get out of his seat, Jenkins is seen pushing the student back and striking him on the head. The student pushes back, and that’s when Jenkins is seen pinning the student against the bus window, allegedly choking him.

A spokesperson from Jefferson Parish Schools, Kaela Lewis, said, “All bus drivers who transport our Jefferson Parish Schools students undergo state and federal background checks. They also undergo training before, and during, the period that they transport our students. The district provides thorough instructions to drivers in compliance with state and federal safety and operations guidelines and regulations.”

Lewis added, “Bus drivers for our transportation vendor, First Student, are required to know and abide by our district’s policies and procedures. To the extent that drivers fail to follow those policies and procedures, they are not fulfilling the requirements of their job.”

NOLA.com reported that after Jenkins was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, he was granted bail at $500. He was released without having to pay because of overcrowding at the facility.