BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Brevard County school bus driver was arrested Monday after pushing a 12-year-old student and putting his hands around the child’s neck, according to the Melbourne Police Department.
The incident happened while the bus carrying students was on the way to the South Alternative Learning Center, a public alternative school in Melbourne.
Recommended Videos
According to the police department, the bus driver, 59-year-old William Green, stopped the bus and approached the boy before pushing the child into a seat and placing his hands around his neck.
“Multiple students witnessed the event, and video from the bus was located, which captured the events,” the department said in a release.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the child and another student were in an argument when Green told them to “knock it off.” The 12-year-old replied, “What are you gonna do other than snitch,” and Green stopped the bus, went up to the boy and pushed him into the seat, the affidavit said.
The boy told police he had trouble breathing for a short period while the bus driver grabbed his throat, the affidavit reads.
Green was arrested and faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
Police said security with the school district was notified and helping in the investigation.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: