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Police arrest parent accused of assaulting bus driver in Canton
The 31-year-old Fall River man allegedly struck the 65-year-old bus driver while young children were aboard the bus, police say.
A parent was arrested after allegedly assaulting a 65-year-old school bus driver in Canton Tuesday, officials said.
Aaron Jamahl Whitehead, 31, of Fall River, is facing charges of assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, witness intimidation, malicious destruction of property, and disorderly conduct, according to a statement from the Randolph Police Department.
Whitehead was arrested Wednesday evening in Stoughton, police said.
Before 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a 65-year-old Canton Public Schools bus driver was picking up students when Whitehead blocked the bus by stopping his vehicle in front of it, attempting to have his child board at a location that was not their assigned spot, police said.
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When the bus driver informed the child they could not board due to company policy, Whitehead reportedly grew angry and boarded the bus himself, according to the police statement.
Whitehead allegedly struck the driver multiple times and took his phone, which he threw before leaving, police said.
The incident occurred at the Avalon apartment complex on the Canton/Randolph line while the bus was transporting students to Hansen Elementary School, according to a joint statement from Principal Tami Olsen and Canton Public Schools Superintendent Derek Folan.
Randolph Fire Department paramedics treated the bus driver and took him to a local hospital, authorities said.
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When authorities arrived, multiple parents in the parking lot were “visibly shaken and upset,” according to the police statement.
Police noted that several young children were also aboard the bus when the alleged assault occurred.
Whitehead is set to be arraigned Thursday in Quincy District Court, police said.
“School bus drivers perform an important job every day transporting children safely to and from school, and this type of violence will not be tolerated,” Police Chief Anthony Marag said. “We wish the driver a full and speedy recovery, and I want to thank the Canton Police Department and the Stoughton Police Department for their assistance during this investigation and arrest.”
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