pennsylvania-school-bus-driver-charged-with-using-duct-tape-to-forcibly-restrain-a-10-year-old-boy

A Pennsylvania school bus driver was arrested and faces felony charges after allegedly using duct tape to restrain a 10-year-old student before getting out of the vehicle in March, authorities said.

The woman identified as Juliet Pratt, 54, was charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child and assault, authorities in Upper Darby, Delaware County said.

For his part, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer pointed out the charges against Pratt in a press release Tuesday, Fox News reported.

“Bus drivers are entrusted with an enormous responsibility every time they get behind the wheel,” the prosecutor said. “In addition to being safe drivers, we also expect you to treat the children in your care with dignity and respect. Using duct tape on a child who was already fully restrained in the vehicle harness was not only unforgivable, it was also dangerous.”

The prosecutor explained that if the accident had happened to adults, the 10-year-old boy would not have been able to free himself.

“There is simply no excuse for this conduct, which is why these charges have been filed,” Stollsteimer said.

Upper Darby Police Department officers responded to an incident that occurred on March 8, 2023 at Hillcrest Elementary School, in Drexel Hill, following reports of a female bus driver assaulting a child.

Video surveillance review showed the suspect allegedly using the duct tape to restrain and restrain the student, whose identity has not been released, to wrap around his chest and ankles.

The student was already seated on the bus wearing a district-provided safety harness, Stollsteimer said.

Pratt used a seat belt cutter to remove the strap holding the boy down when the bus arrived at school, Stollsteimer added, adding that he did not see the student trying to get up from his seat, or move around the bus.

With information from Fox News

By Scribe