A bus driver who allowed a man to board a school bus, distribute CDs and talk to Lyons Township High School students on Tuesday in Brookfield has been suspended by the company he works for as they continue to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, Brookfield police indicated that they won’t be filing any charges against the man, whom they identified as a 36-year-old LaGrange resident and parent of a Lyons Township High School student.
The mother of an LTHS student who lives in Brookfield contacted police at 4:35 p.m. on April 2. The mother called police to let them know of what she considered a suspicious incident that happened that morning.
After her daughter boarded the school bus an Raymond and Shields avenues, a man walked onto the bus and began handing out music CDs to students and telling students that “if any of you have talents” to contact him on Facebook.
A video camera aboard the bus showed that the man asked the bus driver for permission to board the bus and hand out the CDs. The bus driver reportedly told the man, “OK, real quick.” The driver also reportedly told police he believed the man was an LTHS student on his route.
Jennifer Bialobok, spokeswoman for LTHS said the school relies on its bus company, First Student, to make sure no unauthorized people are boarding the bus.
“I don’t know under what circumstances a parent might need to be on a bus,” Bialobok said. “But the buses are for students.”
Tim Stokes, spokesman for Ohio-based First Student, confirmed that the bus driver had been suspending pending the completion of an internal investigation by the company. He also said the company’s policy about letting people board their buses is clear.
“Our drivers are trained that no unauthorized individuals are allowed on the bus at any time,” said Stokes, even if those people are parents of students.
“Regardless, they are not permitted to enter the bus,” he added.
