A northern Minnesota woman was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in connection with a 2024 crash that injured 21 students and a school bus driver, reported KSTP News.
According to the news report, Svea Lynn Snickers, 20, was sentenced Monday to three years of supervised probation after previously pleading guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular operation stemming from the Sept. 12, 2024, crash involving a Hibbing school bus.
As part of her sentence, Snickers must reportedly complete 200 hours of community service. According to the terms of her probation, she will receive two hours of community service credit for every hour she spends speaking publicly about the dangers of distracted driving. She was also ordered to pay $10,267.38 in restitution.
The crash reportedly occurred at the intersection of Highway 5 and Townline Road when Snickers, driving a Toyota RAV4, ran a stop sign and struck the side of the school bus. The impact caused the bus to skid sideways before rolling into a ditch.
Authorities said via the article that 21 students were injured in the crash, and 10 of them, along with both drivers, were transported to a hospital for treatment. No fatalities were reported.
Investigators reportedly determined that Snickers had been recording a video on Snapchat in the moments leading up to the collision. During an interview with Minnesota State Patrol troopers, she admitted to using the social media app immediately before the crash.
Following sentencing, Snickers expressed remorse for the incident, telling local news reporters that she wished the crash had never happened.
During the sentencing hearing, a parent of one of the injured students addressed Snickers directly, offering forgiveness.
“We are not mad at you. We forgive you,” the parent said. “We know this was an accident, and you’ve learned many life lessons.”
The case serves as another reminder of the dangers of distracted driving, particularly around school buses transporting students.
A Maryland man was arrested after he allegedly stole a privately owned school bus and drove it through a red light before striking a curb, reported Yahoo news.
According to the news report, officers first noticed the school bus at approximately 10:30 a.m. July 19 after the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light at an intersection in Waldorf, Maryland.
Officers reportedly initiated a traffic stop. As the driver pulled the school bus over, he struck a curb and caused damage to the front of the vehicle. The extent of the damage was not immediately disclosed.
When officers approached the school bus, they reportedly found the driver alone inside. No passengers or students were on board the bus at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported. The driver was identified as 34-year-old Joseph Andrew Townsend of Waldorf.
Investigators accuse Townsend of entering a privately owned school bus lot, locating the keys to one of the buses and driving away with the vehicle. Officials did not identify the company that owns the bus or disclose where the lot was located.
It was also unclear how long the bus had been missing before officers spotted it or whether the vehicle had been reported stolen before the traffic stop. Townsend was reportedly arrested and charged with theft of property valued at more than $25,000. He was held without bond following his arrest. The investigation remained ongoing.
A 20-year-old New York man has been indicted on felony charges after allegedly pointing a handgun at a school bus carrying three children with special needs during a road rage incident earlier this year, reported Mid-Hudson News.
According to the news report, a Westchester County grand jury indicted Michael Alarcon of Mahopac on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.
The incident reportedly occurred Feb. 4 on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant. Authorities allege Alarcon pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the school bus driver while the driver was transporting the three children.
New York State Police located Alarcon later that day and took him into custody. During the investigation, authorities reportedly recovered a .22-caliber handgun equipped with a green laser and a weapon-mounted light.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. “The defendant’s actions were egregious,” Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said via the article “The fact that the victims were special needs children only amplifies the recklessness. Thankfully, he was quickly apprehended, and no one was injured.”
According to the report, the most serious charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison if Alarcon is convicted. He was 19 when he was arrested following the alleged incident and is now 20. The indictment follows Alarcon’s initial arrest and arraignment in Febuary. He remains free on bail while the case proceeds and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14.
Progress is possible, and Milwaukee’s decline in violent crime in recent years suggest it’s happening.
Advocates and violence prevention workers say keeping crime trending down depends on investment in the trusted relationships that make violence less likely.
Examples of investments that can create tangible alternatives to violence, they said, are mentorship instead of isolation, employment instead of boredom and community instead of retaliation.
At the center of it all is trust, said Reggie Moore, director of community safety, policy and engagement for the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“Trust is universal,” Moore said. “Trust is the door opener.”
Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses crime trends for the first half of 2026 during a press conference on July 7, 2026, at the Milwaukee Police Administration Building, 951 N. James Lovell St. Behind him, from left, are Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern, Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and Karin Tyler, director of the Milwaukee Department of Community Wellness and Safety. (Devin Blake / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)
City and county leaders highlighted declines in violent crime on July 7 as they presented data for the first half of 2026.
Compared with the first half of 2025, homicides fell 30%, nonfatal shootings fell 27%, and carjackings fell 34%.
“Milwaukee is a safer community,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “This continues a multiyear trend that is very positive news.”
Karin Tyler, director of the city Department of Community Wellness and Safety, said the progress reflects years of collaboration among law enforcement, violence prevention organizations, community groups and residents.
“Milwaukee is making progress, and that progress belongs to all of us,” Tyler said.
Aziz Abdullah, far right, stands next to Common Council President Jose Perez as he speaks to teens during a pop-up anti-violence event on Milwaukee’s South Side on July 8, 2026. (Edgar Mendez / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)
Aziz Abdullah, co-founder of INPOWER Solutions, said he doesn’t want to gloss over the progress or take it for granted.
“Lives are being protected, and that should not be overlooked,” Abdullah said.
Moore pointed to reductions in retaliatory shootings, group-based gun violence and youth-related gun violence as signs of progress.
He said programs such as 414LIFE intentionally focus on the people and neighborhoods at highest risk of gun violence.
‘We don’t shoot up stuff’
Vaun Mayes, a community organizer and violence interrupter with the city’s Department of Community Wellness and Safety, said he sees these interventions firsthand every day.
“We also get to see the changes in some of the key players who are even doing a bit of self-control and self-policing,” Mayes said.
He described one instance at a block party where two groups were in conflict and one group was armed.
Mayes said he heard one of the young men say, “Aye, we don’t shoot up stuff where it’s kids at.”
Community violence intervention workers de-escalated the conflict, and the result, Mayes said, was that no one was shot.
“That’s one of maybe over a dozen incidents in the past two months I can give you,” he said.
Looking forward
Teens gather in a parking lot on Milwaukee’s South Side on July 8, 2026, as part of a pop-up anti-violence event. (Edgar Mendez / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)
Violence prevention workers and local leaders said the local efforts are by no means complete.
“We still have work to do,” Tyler said.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman pointed to violence on the Fourth of July weekend as an example.
Moore said what’s needed is more employment and educational opportunities and helping people develop the skills to resolve conflicts without violence.
Bridget Whitaker, executive director of Safe & Sound, said residents continue to express concerns about reckless driving, youth conflicts, neighborhood safety and other quality-of-life issues.
“Ultimately, the goal isn’t simply fewer crimes on a dashboard,” Whitaker said in an email. “It’s creating neighborhoods where people feel comfortable sitting on their front porch, children can safely walk to the park, businesses can thrive and neighbors know and look out for one another.”
Barbed wire and fences surround the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, a juvenile detention center in Maryland. The state’s recent changes to its juvenile justice laws aim to reduce the number of young people entering the adult criminal justice system while expanding rehabilitative services. (Photo by Amanda Watford/Stateline)
A teenager charged with the same crime can face dramatically different consequences depending on where they live.
In one state, a young person accused of a serious offense may be sent to a juvenile facility focused on treatment and rehabilitation. In another, they could face adult criminal proceedings, a permanent record and the possibility of an adult prison sentence.
This year, more than half a dozen states, including Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri and Utah, have passed new laws reshaping their juvenile legal systems. While some have adopted measures designed to divert more young people from incarceration, others have sought to impose stiffer penalties and expand prosecutors’ authority to pursue adult charges.
The opposite tacks underscore an increasingly fractured approach to juvenile justice nationwide.
The new laws also come as states grapple with how to respond to serious crimes committed by children while weighing decades of research suggesting adolescents are more capable of rehabilitation than adults.
Videos of youth-involved assaults, carjackings and large gatherings sometimes called “teen takeovers” frequently spread online, fueling renewed debate over whether tougher punishments or expanded diversion programs are the better path to improving public safety.
In Hawaii, for example, a new law signed in June by Democratic Gov. Josh Green requires judges to consider a child’s history of trauma before deciding whether to transfer a juvenile case to adult court. The law, which took effect immediately upon Green’s signature, also prohibits minors who are victims of sex trafficking or sexual assault from being prosecuted as adults for crimes committed as a result of their exploitation.
Research suggests that incarcerating children and teens in adult prisons, where they may face lengthy sentences and restrictive conditions, can increase the risk of reoffending.
“It wasn’t a question of whether kids had been traumatized, but actually how many traumas they’d experienced,” said Sara Thomas, a research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University, referring to research that found young people held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago had experienced a median of six traumatic events.
Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed into law in March a measure that, when it takes effect in August, will overhaul parts of the state’s youthful offender system by requiring trauma-informed care, individualized treatment plans, therapy and reentry-focused programming.
A new law in Minnesota, which also takes effect in August, will raise the minimum age at which a child can enter the juvenile justice system for an offense from 10 to 13. The change stems from legislation passed in 2024.
Once it takes effect, Minnesota will become one of only three states with a minimum age of delinquency set at 13, joining Maryland and New Hampshire, according to the National Youth Justice Network, an advocacy and research organization.
Other states are moving in the opposite direction, giving prosecutors and courts more authority to pursue adult penalties in serious cases and arguing that violent offenses require stronger consequences, regardless of a defendant’s age.
In Missouri, a new law will give prosecutors more authority to seek adult charges against young people. Previously, only a juvenile officer or court could request a hearing to transfer a case to adult court. The law also narrows the offenses eligible for adult prosecution to Class A and Class B felonies, such as homicide, first-degree burglary and certain sex offenses, while requiring juvenile records and fingerprints to be added to the state’s criminal history database.
“Missouri must address the revolving door for repeat violent offenders –– and that includes juveniles,” Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a news release.
Mississippi also expanded the circumstances under which young people can face adult charges. A new law effective this month requires 13-year-olds to automatically be tried in adult court for most violent crimes committed while possessing a firearm, even if the firearm was not used. The law prohibits children younger than 13 from being held responsible in adult court for misdemeanors or felonies, though parents or guardians may face civil liability.
A changing landscape
Beginning in the 1990s, amid concerns over violent youth crime, many states expanded laws that allowed more juveniles to be prosecuted as adults.
But as juvenile crime declined over the following decades and research on adolescent brain development grew, many states began reconsidering those policies. Research suggests that the parts of the brain involved in impulse control, decision making and evaluating long-term consequences continue developing into early adulthood.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Youth Charging Reform Act into law in May 2026, altering how the state handles juvenile jurisdiction, detention, and confinement. The law, which goes into effect in October, limits when children younger than 13 can be charged with crimes and establishes new reporting metrics to track youth outcomes.
The new law preserves automatic adult court jurisdiction for teens 16 and older accused of offenses punishable by life imprisonment, including homicide and rape. Judges will retain the authority to transfer 14- and 15-year-olds accused of those same life-punishable offenses to adult court under the state’s existing transfer procedures.
The law also tightens detention rules, requiring intake officers to authorize the detention of any child 16 or older accused of a handgun violation or violent crime. By October 2029, children will be barred from being held in adult correctional facilities.
Supporters said the changes recognize that young children who engage in delinquent behavior often have unmet mental health, educational or family needs that are better addressed through services than incarceration.
“This progress brings us closer to ensuring that hundreds of young people in Maryland are met with support and services in the juvenile system, rather than being routed into a process that leads to worse outcomes for both youth and public safety,” state Democratic Sen. Will Smith Jr., the bill’s primary sponsor, said in a news release.
The Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association views the new law as a step backward, arguing that the state Department of Juvenile Services is not equipped to handle young people accused of violent and repeat offenses.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, the association’s president, also criticized the state’s juvenile legal system in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “broken,” just weeks after a multi-jurisdictional crime ring investigation that led to charges against five teens. “We cannot continue sending children back into a broken system and expect them to be rehabilitated while also expecting our communities to remain safe,” Bates wrote.
Supporters of changes like Maryland’s new law argue that adult convictions can create long-term barriers to employment, housing and education, making it harder for young people to successfully transition into adulthood. Juvenile records are generally confidential.
“Transfer of youth to adult court is bad public policy,” said Mary Ann Scali, the executive director of The Gault Center, a national organization that trains and supports defense attorneys who represent young people in court. “It causes more harm and does not lead to better outcomes for young people or communities.”
Sarah Johnson, senior youth defense counsel with The Gault Center, said research does not support the argument that moving children into adult court improves public safety.
“Transfer does not increase public safety. Transfer increases recidivism. Transfer traumatizes young people because they’re now placed in an adult facility,” Johnson said, noting that children may face heightened risks of physical and sexual abuse from other incarcerated people and staff.
A 2007 review by the Community Preventive Services Task Force, a panel established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assess the effectiveness of community-based prevention programs and policies, found that transferring young people to adult court did not reduce reoffending and was associated with higher rates of recidivism.
From the peak in youth arrests in 1996 to 2024, the latest year with available data, youth arrests have declined by about 83%, according to federal data. While the number of estimated youth arrests increased between 2021 and 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic, they fell again in 2024, which is lower than pre-pandemic levels.
In 2024, children and teens accounted for 6.8% of all arrests, according to the latest crime statistics maintained by the FBI. They made up about 10% of arrests for violent crimes and 9.5% of arrests for property crimes.
Quotation
I’m looking for any way possible to try and solve this issue of unruly juveniles.
– North Charleston, S.C., Police Chief Ron Camacho
Despite the long-term decline in youth arrests, states continue to debate how to handle the small percentage of young people involved in serious offenses — and what approaches are most effective at preventing future crime.
In Utah, lawmakers approved a measure allowing judges to send someone convicted of aggravated murder to adult prison if the person was 17 at the time of the offense and turns 18 before sentencing. The law also expands the state’s collection of recidivism data, including information on arrests and jail time.
Kansas, meanwhile, moved in the opposite direction this year, rolling back parts of a 2016 legislative package designed to reduce youth confinement. A new law, which was adopted in April, creates additional residential placements, expands detention requirements for some youth accused of firearm offenses and repeat offenses, and increases possible sentences for youth who use firearms during crimes.
Accountability and public safety
While some experts emphasize rehabilitation and keeping young people out of the adult system, others argue that accountability and public safety must remain central goals — particularly when young people commit serious violent offenses. They argue that rehabilitation should not come at the expense of accountability and that the justice system must address the harm caused to victims and communities.
In 2024, Louisiana and North Carolina both passed laws expanding the circumstances under which older teens can face adult criminal proceedings.
In Louisiana, a law pushed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry rolled back the 2017 “Raise the Age” law that had moved most 17-year-olds into the juvenile justice system while allowing prosecutors to seek adult charges in individual cases. The new law requires all 17-year-olds accused of crimes to be processed through the adult criminal justice system, removing that case-by-case discretion.
As the state has embraced a more punitive approach, it has also seen the cost of its juvenile legal system rise — as well as the number of young people behind bars.
Louisiana also is expanding its youth prison capacity, with plans to open a new 56-bed juvenile facility in Vernon Parish and add 36 beds at the Jetson Center for Youth in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Some youth advocates say the expansion risks exposing more young people to the harms associated with incarceration.
“When you build a jail, you find a way to fill them,” said Alaina Bloodworth, the executive director of the Black Public Defender Association. Bloodworth previously served as a public defender in Baton Rouge for seven years. “We’re just really going backwards.”
In North Carolina, a 2024 law requires 16- and 17-year-olds charged with Class A through E felonies to begin their cases in adult criminal court rather than juvenile court, reversing a previous effort to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction. The change has contributed to a sharp increase in the share of youth in detention who are facing adult charges, rising from 39% in 2024 to 65% in 2025, according to the state’s annual report on juvenile justice.
The debate over how to balance accountability and rehabilitation has also been shaped by high-profile incidents involving young people that receive widespread attention online. Viral videos of youth assaults, carjackings and large gatherings have fueled public pressure for tougher approaches to youth crime.
In South Carolina, a Fourth of July city-permitted neighborhood block party in North Charleston drew national attention after videos of the incident spread online. Police said the gathering turned violent, with reports of fights, gunfire and fireworks being fired at vehicles. Officers recovered four firearms, including two automatic weapons, as well as a “makeshift spear,” according to local police.
Two female police officers were injured while attempting to break up fights, and seven people, including four teenagers, were arrested, according to local police.
“We need some help from the community because stuff like this is getting dangerous,” North Charleston police Chief Ron Camacho said during a news conference.
“I’m looking for any way possible to try and solve this issue of unruly juveniles.”
This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Wisconsin Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating two separate incidents involving the theft or attempted theft of catalytic converters from school transportation vehicles in Franklin County, with charges pending against one suspect in one of the cases, reported Tri-State News.
Police said via the article that Shawn Jordan, 38, of Hagerstown, Maryland, is expected to face charges after investigators identified him as one of the suspects in an attempted catalytic converter theft at the Chambersburg Area School District transportation facility on Cider Press Road in Guilford Township.
According to the news report, the incident occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 9. Investigators allege Jordan attempted to steal catalytic converters from a white 2025 Ford van and a white 2018 Ford van owned by the school district. The transportation hub is located near Falling Spring Elementary School.
State police reportedly said charges will be filed through Magisterial District Judge 39-3-07. Court records had not yet reflected formal charges as of the latest update. The investigation is being conducted under the Pennsylvania State Police Department.
In a separate case, PSP is reportedly investigating the theft of catalytic converters from two vehicles owned by DL Friese Transportation in Hamilton Township. Troopers were notified shortly before 7 a.m. May 11 that catalytic converters had been stolen from a school bus and a box truck parked at the company’s lot on Lincoln Way West near Chambersburg. The theft resulted in an estimated loss of about $1,600.
No arrests have been made in that case, which remains under investigation. State police are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact the PSP Chambersburg station.
Catalytic converter thefts have become a recurring concern for vehicle owners. School districts and school bus contractors have increasingly been targeted in recent years due to the number of vehicles typically stored together in fleet yards.
A Tremper High School teacher was arrested and then placed on administrative leave after police said he allegedly struck a school bus in the school’s parking lot while intoxicated and fled the scene, prompting concern from parents and students who witnessed the incident, reported TMJ4 News.
According to the news report, officers responded at about 2:58 p.m. June 4 to a report of a pickup truck that collided with a First Student school bus in the parking lot of Tremper High School. The truck left the scene before officers arrived.
Officers followed a trail of leaking vehicle fluid from the crash site to a nearby residence, where they found the pickup truck parked inside an open garage along with the suspected driver.
Police arrested the Tremper High School technology education teacher and charged him with hit-and-run, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and reckless driving endangering safety. No injuries were reported.
According to the article, Ginger Wyatt, whose daughter Chloe was on the school bus, said she was disturbed by the incident and questioned how it occurred on school grounds.
“How is the teacher who just got off the clock unable to pull out of a parking lot safely?” Wyatt said via the article. “I was really, really concerned. It’s horrible to me as a parent and for any kids to have that kind of danger around and nobody addressing it.”
Chloe Wyatt recalled feeling the bus shift after the collision. “I got on the bus, sat down and then it just tilts to the side, and I see this car drive past,” she said via the report. “It’s just our teacher did a hit and run on us. It’s crazy.”
She added that many students looked up to the teacher and were shocked by the allegations.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority,” the district said in a statement. “We cannot provide further details at this time because this is a personnel matter involving an ongoing investigation,” the district said via the article.
The incident remains under investigation by the Kenosha Police Department. Neither police nor district officials have released the teacher’s name.
Two former Parkland School District school bus drivers are facing felony charges after authorities learned of a break-in at a school district bus garage and the illegal accessing of confidential computer records, including student records consisting of photograph rosters, reported WFMZ News.
According to the news report, Shawn Levy, 32, and Tyler Young, 27, are each charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit unlawful duplication of computer data.
The two men, who previously worked as school bus drivers for the district, allegedly entered the Orefield Middle School bus garage on the night of June 6 without authorization. School surveillance video reportedly showed Levy and Young arriving together in a Tesla registered to Young around 10 p.m.
Authorities said the pair entered the secure transportation facility, where neither had authorized access and remained inside for nearly two hours before leaving. The investigation began after Parkland School District Director of Safety Dr. Anthony Naradko notified South Whitehall Township Police June 8 about the break-in.
Officials reportedly said the transportation garage supervisor, who was away from work that evening, received alerts indicating new login attempts using his cellphone and computer credentials.
Access of Student Photograph Rosters During Break-in
A subsequent review found multiple disciplinary files had been accessed during the break-in. Investigators also discovered a printed student roster containing photographs of students assigned to Levy’s former bus route. According to the report, the roster had been printed April 25 and could only be accessed through the district’s secure software system by authorized administrative personnel.
Authorities further alleged that an off-site IP address associated with Levy and Young was used at least 55 times between March 25 and June 5 to gain unauthorized access to another district employee’s account. Young was reportedly arraigned Thursday and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16. Levy surrendered Friday and remained in custody pending arraignment.
Parkland School District said via the article that it immediately launched an internal investigation and cooperated with law enforcement. The district said a forensic audit confirmed unauthorized activity involving specific network credentials and that it is reviewing system permissions, strengthening cybersecurity measures and enhancing system monitoring while the criminal investigation continues.
A former Dunklin R-5 School District bus driver has been charged in connection with an alleged driving under the influence incident that occurred while transporting students earlier this year, reported First Alert 4.
According to the news report, Dawna Brennan faces 37 felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child stemming from a Feb. 6 incident in which she allegedly drove a school bus carrying 37 students under the age of 17 after consuming alcohol.
Officers were reportedly called that afternoon to assist with a report of an impaired driver. An initial breath test administered at about 3:20 p.m. showed Brennan’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.029 percent. Authorities said she admitted to drinking half a bottle of Coors Light before driving the bus.
A second breath test conducted about an hour later registered a 0.000 percentblood alcohol reading. Investigators said via the article that Brennan also provided officers with a list of medications she was taking, noting that impairment can occur when alcohol is combined with certain medications.
Authorities said via the report that surveillance footage from the Herculaneum Parks and Recreation Department showed Brennan stopping at Kade’s Playground and drinking from a bottle of Coors Light before beginning her afternoon bus route. Officers later recovered the discarded bottle from a nearby trash can.
The Dunklin R-5 School District reportedly said Brennan was terminated immediately after officials learned about the situation.
“This week, a former school bus driver for the Dunklin R-5 School District was charged in connection with a driving under the influence incident from Feb. 2026,” Communications Director Matt Lichtenstein said via the article. The district also praised Officer Tavener for assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.
District officials reportedly stated that Brennan passed all required pre-employment background checks, including a review of her driving record. While court records indicate her blood alcohol level was below the legal limit for commercial drivers, the district said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol use by employees responsible for student transportation.
Two school buses at a private Marysville, Washington school were damaged after a suspected fuel theft attempt sparked a fire, and now school officials are faced with the need to replace another school bus.
According to a social post by Grace Academy, the fuel theft and resulting blaze occurred June 15. Two individuals were attempting to siphon fuel from one of the school buses when the vehicle caught fire. The blaze destroyed a smaller bus and damaged a larger bus parked nearby, and it burned surrounding bushes. Officials said they believe the fire was accidental. No injuries were reported.
“We’ve had some problems in the past with people coming onto campus and drilling holes into fuel tanks,” Tim Pearce, co-head of school at Grace Academy, told local news reporters. “This particular one went very wrong.”
The Marysville Fire Department responded quickly and prevented the flames from spreading further, school officials said in a statement posted on social media. Grace Academy praised firefighters for containing the blaze and minimizing additional damage to school property.
Pearce said the smaller bus is believed to be a total loss, while the extent of damage to the larger bus is still being assessed.
The Marysville Police Department is investigating the incident. A department spokesperson said via local reports on Monday that no arrests have been made, and no fuel theft suspects have been identified. Detectives are continuing to review the case.
Fire Damage Throws Wrench in New School Year Transportation Plans
The destroyed school buses are used primarily for student transportation during field trips, athletic competitions, and other extracurricular activities. School officials are now evaluating how to replace the damaged vehicle and restore transportation capacity before students return to campus for the upcoming school year.
Pearce said the loss is particularly frustrating because the school had recently completed a fundraising campaign.
“We had just raised money for a new bus just last year,” he told reporters. “Now we are down again, so we are going to have to raise funds again.”
The school launched an effort to seek donations from the community to help replace the destroyed bus and improve campus security measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
School officials said they are considering additional security upgrades after previous incidents involving individuals entering the property and damaging fuel tanks. Pearce noted that fuel theft has been an ongoing concern, though none of the prior incidents resulted in a fire.
Grace Academy officials expressed gratitude that no students or staff members were on campus at the time of the fire and that no injuries were reported.
Delaware State Police have arrested a man accused of pointing a handgun at a school bus carrying students.
Charles McCombs, 62, of Magnolia, was charged with multiple felony offenses following an investigation into the June 9 incident, according to Delaware State Police.
Police said the investigation began at about 8 p.m. when the school resource officer assigned to Polytech High School was notified by school administrators about a cellphone video showing a man pointing a firearm at students on a school bus.
Detectives determined the incident occurred earlier that day while a school bus was traveling through Magnolia, Delaware.
According to investigators, a student aboard the bus sprayed water from a water gun at a man riding a Can-Am Spyder motorcycle traveling alongside the bus. After being sprayed, the motorcyclist became angry, yelled at students and then allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it toward bus as he drove away.
Gun Threat Results in Arrest, Unknown Consequences for Students
Authorities said no injuries were reported, and no shots were fired during the encounter. However, investigators considered the alleged actions serious enough to pursue felony charges.
State police used investigative techniques to identify the suspect as McCombs and obtained an arrest warrant. Details about the methods used to identify him were not released.
McCombs was taken into custody without incident June 11 and transported to Delaware State Police Troop 3 for processing. He was charged with one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and six counts of aggravated menacing, all felony offenses.
Under Delaware law, aggravated menacing involves intentionally placing another person in fear of imminent physical injury through the display of what appears to be a deadly weapon.
Police did not immediately release additional information about the six aggravated menacing charges, including whether each count corresponds to an individual student or another victim involved in the incident. There was also no mention if any discipline was handed out to students involved in the incident.
Following his arrest, McCombs was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2. He was subsequently committed to Sussex Correctional Institution after failing to post a $48,000 secured bond, according to authorities.
No additional details about the investigation were immediately available. It was also unclear whether McCombs has retained legal representation. The case remains under investigation.
A northwest Ohio pastor as well as a school bus driver was arrested on allegations involving sex crimes against minors, prompting his dismissal from a local church and a suspension from his job with a public school district.
According to the Deshler Police Department, Christopher Walter, 52, was charged with grooming and sexual battery. The sexual battery charge alleges the victim was a minor, and that Walter was more than two years older than the alleged victim.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.03, sexual battery can apply in cases involving adults who hold positions of authority or trust over minors.
Walter was booked into the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio on June 2, court records show. During an initial court appearance the next day, a judge set bond at $30,000, with 10 percent permitted for release.
Administrators with Patrick Henry Local Schools confirmed Walter was employed by the district as a bus driver. Following his arrest, the district suspended him without pay.
“Patrick Henry Local Schools is aware of the arrest and criminal charges involving an employee of the district,” the district said in a statement. “The employee has been suspended without pay. Because this is a personnel and legal matter, the district will have no further comment.”
Walter also served as lead pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Deshler. Church officials confirmed he was removed from that position following the allegations.
According to local news reporters Bishop Daniel Beaudoin described the accusations as serious and deeply troubling. He said the church acted after hearing of the allegations and emphasized that abuse has no place within the faith community.
“The abuse of anyone, especially minors, has no place in our church,” Beaudoin said via local reports. “We will continue to pray for those harmed, the congregation and all involved as we navigate this troubling situation.” The bishop did not provide additional details about Walter’s termination or any internal actions taken by the church.
Authorities have released few details about the investigation. The Deshler Police Department said it is not providing additional information at this time. “The matter remains under investigation, and no further information is being released currently.”
Court records do not indicate whether Walter had entered a plea at this report. Information regarding legal representation was not immediately available.
School officials did not say how long Walter had worked for the district. Church officials likewise did not provide details about his tenure as lead pastor. No information about the alleged sexual battery victims has been released. Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
A 16-year-old Harrisburg teen has been charged with criminal homicide after the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old student moments after stepping off a school bus.
Jeremiah Moran, 16, is charged with first-degree murder, firearms not to be carried without a license, and possession of a firearm by a minor in connection with the death of a 17-year-old.
Police said the fatal shooting occurred May 29 near an intersection shortly after students were dismissed from school and days before the end of the school year. The 17-year-old had just exited a school bus when investigators say Moran approached and opened fire. The victim was transported to a local hospital for emergency care but died due to his injuries.
Video Shows Fatal Shooting
Investigators reportedly obtained video evidence allegedly showing Moran firing the weapon to shoot the victim, identified as Camar Cordero by local reports. Police said via local news that Moran later admitted to officers that he shot Cordero.
“There still is some of the puzzle that needs to be put together. But at this point in time, I think we have a pretty good understanding of what transpired and as to why it transpired as well,” Harrisburg Police Capt. Kyle Gautsch told local news reporters.
Investigators have not publicly released a motive for the fatal shooting.
However, the shooting prompted a large police response as officers secured the scene and collected evidence. Authorities noted that a school bus visible at the scene was not the bus Cordero had been riding but another bus traveling behind it.
Sixth Street remained closed for several hours while detectives processed evidence. Crime scene tape surrounded a large section of the roadway, where investigators marked multiple pieces of evidence. Witnesses reported seeing clothing and numerous evidence markers within the secured area. The road reopened around 6:15 p.m.
Neighbors who rushed to assist the victim described a chaotic scene in the moments after gunfire erupted. Judith Weaver, who helped organize emergency aid before first responders arrived, said residents immediately worked to help the wounded teen.
“I knew the bus had just let out. So, I went running down there,” Weaver told local news reporters. “Everyone was just so worked up. It was all chaos.”
Weaver said bystanders used available fabric to apply pressure to Cordero’s wounds while waiting for emergency personnel. She credited several community members, including a young girl who assisted efforts to keep the victim conscious.
Lt. Brandon Braughler of the Harrisburg Police Bureau praised residents who responded and cooperated with investigators. “The community came out,” Braughler said. “They’ve been very cooperative helping establish a very large crime scene.”
The fatal shooting has renewed concerns about youth violence in the city. Gautsch urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives and be aware of potential warning signs.
“Make sure you know what’s going on with your children, what’s going on in their heads, and what’s in your lives and their lives,” Gautsch said.
The Harrisburg School District also responded to the tragedy. Superintendent Benjamin Henry said he hopes to hold a memorial in the coming days for Cordero and another student who died last week after being struck by a vehicle.
“As a father and an educator, I refuse to normalize this tragic shooting,” Henry said in a statement, calling on residents, community leaders and elected officials to work together to address violence affecting young people.
Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.
A former Utah school bus driver who admitted to setting fire to his school bus, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, bringing an end to a decade-long case that raised concerns about student safety.
Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, pleaded guilty in March to arson of a vehicle belonging to an organization receiving federal funds after investigators determined he intentionally ignited a Granite School District bus with a cigarette lighter while driving it in April 2023. Federal prosecutors said surveillance video captured Ford setting the fire beneath the dashboard and continuing to drive as smoke billowed past his face.
In addition to the prison term, Ford was sentenced Monday to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $21,000 in restitution.
The case drew heightened attention because prosecutors also accused Ford of setting another school bus fire in February 2022 while 42 children were aboard. According to court records, students reported smelling smoke and were seen on video covering their faces with their shirts and coughing as smoke filled the bus. Ford eventually stopped the vehicle, evacuated the students, and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. No serious injuries were reported. The charge related to that incident was dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
Federal authorities said Ford also attempted to tamper with the bus video surveillance system in the days leading up to the April 2023 fire, but investigators were still able to obtain video evidence showing him igniting the blaze.
Fires Go Back at Least 10 Years
Ford had worked for the Granite School District since 1998 and drove school buses for approximately 25 years before he was terminated following the investigation.
Investigators also linked Ford to several other suspicious fires. According to court documents, authorities determined he was involved in eight fires, including four involving Granite School District buses, two at his West Valley City residence and two involving personal vehicles. Police noted that the four bus fires all originated in the dashboard area and occurred while Ford was driving. One of those incidents occurred in 2017 when a bus was partially engulfed in flames, damaging part of the vehicle. No children were on board, and no injuries were reported. Authorities initially believed the fire was caused by mechanical problems before later identifying Ford as the driver.
“Protecting our most vulnerable population is a top priority,” U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak said in a statement following the sentencing. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and my office who worked tirelessly on this case to bring it to a close and hold Mr. Ford accountable for his intentional disregard for safety and the law.”
A school bus driver contracted to transport students for the Rantoul City School District in Illinois has been arrested on allegations of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, reported WCIA News.
According to the news report, 35-year-old Illinois school bus driver Johnnie C. McClendon Jr. was taken into custody May 28 following an investigation conducted by the Rantoul Police Department. Police said McClendon was arrested without incident.
McClendon is employed by First Student Inc., the transportation company contracted to provide bus services for the district, said police via the article.
“At this time, investigators have received no allegations of misconduct related to his employment, and the investigation appears to involve matters unrelated to his position with the company,” the police department said in a statement to local news reporters.
Police reportedly declined to release additional details, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of those involved. Court records had not been updated as of Friday to reflect formal charges filed by the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. McClendon remained in custody following his initial court appearance.
Rantoul City Schools Superintendent Scott Woods said district officials were notified by police of the arrest and immediately contacted First Student regarding the driver’s status.
“We have confirmed with First Student that the individual will not be driving for our school district in future,” Woods said in a letter sent to families.
Woods said district officials have been informed that the allegations are not related to McClendon’s conduct while driving a school bus. However, he noted the district has not received information indicating whether the alleged conduct involved a student enrolled in the district.
“We take all matters involving the safety and well-being of children extremely seriously and are monitoring the situation closely,” Woods wrote. “Student safety remains our highest priority.”
The district said it will continue cooperating with law enforcement and communicating with First Student as appropriate.
Police encouraged anyone who may have experienced inappropriate conduct, whether related to the case or otherwise, to contact the Rantoul Police Department. The investigation remains ongoing.
A teen girl was shot and injured near a school bus stop in Wood Village, Oregon, leading to the arrest of a 14-year old suspect who fled the scene.
According to the police report, Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 4:14 p.m. May 15 to reports of a shooting near Northeast 235th Avenue after a school bus driver called 911. When first responders arrived, they found a teenage girl suffering from a gunshot wound.
Deputies immediately began providing life-saving aid until paramedics arrived and transported the girl to a local hospital. Authorities said she was alert and responsive while receiving treatment at the scene.
In an update released a day later, investigators confirmed the teen girl shot is 13 years old and has non-life threatening injuries. Detectives said the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the shooting itself remain under investigation, though preliminary findings indicate the incident may have started with an argument.
Witnesses told investigators the suspect ran from the area immediately after the shooting. Authorities did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public, and no shelter-in-place order was issued.
Investigators coordinated with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office while interviewing witnesses, collecting video footage and processing evidence connected to the case.
The shooting rattled nearby residents, many of whom said they were alarmed to learn the victim was a young teenager. “I was really bummed to find out it was a teenager when I was talking to police,” nearby resident Corbin Mandzij told local news reporters.
Another neighbor expressed concern about violence occurring in a neighborhood with many children. “A stray bullet can go anywhere,” the neighbor told the station. “There’s lots of kids around here, my biggest worry is about the kids.”
Some residents said the shooting happened only steps from their homes. “It was 15 feet from my property line, right outside my front door,” one neighbor said. Others said the incident has left them feeling uneasy.
Teen Girl Shot by 14-Year-Old Boy, Police Allege
Authorities announced Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy accused of shooting the girl turned himself in to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. According to investigators, the surrender was coordinated through the suspect’s attorney after detectives requested he come forward.
The suspect surrendered at the Multnomah County Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center and was booked on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities said they will not release additional identifying information.
Investigators said the shooting began after two teenage girls got into a physical fight after exiting a school bus. Detectives said both girls knew the 14-year-old suspect. During the altercation, the boy allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot the 13-year-old girl before fleeing the scene. Authorities also confirmed the suspect is not enrolled in the Reynolds School District. However, it was unclear if the suspect was on board the school bus with the girls. The victim remains hospitalized with injuries considered non-life threatening.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office credited deputies, detectives, analysts and members of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force for their work on the investigation. Authorities also thanked community members who provided cellphone video, tips and other information related to the case.
A Michigan man already free on bond in a separate assault case is accused of stealing a decommissioned school bus, crashing it into a tree and ditch, and fleeing on foot, reported Mlive News.
Andre Weston, 21, of Carrollton Township, was charged May 11 with unlawfully driving a motor vehicle, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Police said Weston left the adult foster care facility where he lives around 8 p.m. May 8 without authorization. Staff at the facility in the 800 block of Piper Drive reported him missing about 90 minutes later.
As officers headed to the facility, a call came in around 9:45 p.m. from a homeowner on Lincoln Street reporting that a school bus had become stuck in his front yard.
The homeowner reportedly told police he noticed the stolen school bus driving down the residential street late at night and thought it seemed unusual. The bus later began backing down the road before veering into the yard, striking a tree and becoming lodged in a ditch.
The driver then exited through the back door and ran toward Mapleridge Road. Officers later found Weston near Carrollton High School, about a half-mile from the crash site.
Alleged Stolen Bus Taken from Contractor
After being advised of his rights, Weston admitted to stealing the bus from the high school parking lot, police said via the news report. The stolen school bus had been decommissioned and recently purchased from the school district by contractor Dean Transportation. Investigators said the vehicle had been left unsecured with the keys inside.
A tow truck was required to remove the bus from the ditch, and police are reportedly reviewing surveillance footage to determine exactly when the bus was taken. Weston was arraigned Monday in Saginaw County District Court before Judge M. Randall Jurrens.
At the time of the incident, Weston was free on bond in a separate case filed in March charging him with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors allege he assaulted two female staff members at the foster care facility where he lives. A preliminary examination on the new charge is scheduled for May 26.
Deputies were alerted of the situation Monday morning after another student on the bus sent a text message to 911 communications reporting that Figueroa was in possession of a firearm. Authorities said the tip prompted an immediate response from law enforcement.
School resource officers assigned to Blythewood High School along with additional deputies located and intercepted the bus as it arrived on campus. Officials said Figueroa was quickly detained upon arrival.
A search of his belongings led to the discovery of a loaded pistol inside his bag. Investigators said there was no indication that Figueroa had attempted to use it during the bus ride. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
It remains unclear where Figueroa obtained the loaded gun. He was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where he was booked. Jail records show he remains in custody, and no bond has been set as of Monday.
Officials have not said whether Figueroa will face disciplinary action from Blythewood High School or the Richland 2 School District. However, under state and federal law, firearm possession on school property typically carries a mandatory expulsion recommendation of at least one year, subject to district policy and due process.
Authorities Praise See-Something, Say Something Student
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott praised the student who reported the gun, emphasizing the importance of speaking up in potentially dangerous situations.
“That took courage, and it made a difference,” Lott said in a statement. “Because of that student, we were able to intervene immediately and prevent a potentially dangerous situation.”
South Carolina State Director of Transportation Mike Bullman said while the incident was very serious, it was quickly and successfully contained. “In many cases, the most effective safeguard is human behavior rather than physical security,” he told STN. “From a transportation standpoint, we believe the system responded appropriately, and there is no evidence of a procedural breakdown based on what we know at this time.”
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about school safety and the role students can play in preventing violence via “See something, say something.” Law enforcement officials have increasingly encouraged the use of anonymous reporting tools and emergency communication systems to alert authorities to threats.
“We stress drivers and transportation officials the importance of being mindful and attentive to their surroundings, recognizing when something may be out of the ordinary, and the importance of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ culture,” Bullman said. “Certainly, in this case, it really paid off,” Bullman said.
Authorities have not released further details about potential motives or whether additional charges could be filed.
A former New York school bus and Uber driver will serve 16 years in prison for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl over the course of nearly a year.
Miguel Enrique Diaz, 49, admitted in court that he repeatedly abused the 12–year-old child between December 2022 and October 2023, both inside his personal vehicle and at his home. At the time of the offenses, Diaz was working as both an Uber driver and a school bus driver at the Bay Shore School District.
Hewas sentenced April 24 to 16 years behind bars followed by 15 years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a Class B violent felony, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
“This sentence is substantial, but it pales in comparison to the potential lifelong trauma the victim will endure,” Tierney said in a statement. “We hope the strength this young survivor showed in coming forward is the first step in her healing and encourages others to speak out.”
Mother’s Report Led to Investigation of School Bus Driver
The abuse came to light in March 2024, when the victim disclosed the incidents to her mother, who then contacted law enforcement. Following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section, Diaz was arrested that same year.
Authorities said the investigation included interviews, evidence collection and coordination with prosecutors from the district attorney’s Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.
Diaz pleaded guilty March 17. He is expected to serve his sentence in a New York state correctional facility and will also register as a sex offender upon his release.
Officials did not disclose how the former school bus driver encountered the victim but emphasized that the case highlights the importance of vigilance when it comes to individuals in positions of trust, particularly those who work with or around children.
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