VAN BUREN, Co. — Justin Edwards, 7, takes a 45 minute bus ride to school every morning from Kalamazoo to Bangor.
However, his father said 5 minutes into Monday`s ride things turned violent.
“I got a phone call at the end of the day that he had supposedly assaulted his bus attendant. And I was told to come to the school or the police would be there to pick my son up,” David Edwards said.
Edwards said his son has behavior issues and goes to a special needs school in Van Buren County.
“[Justin has] ADD, ADHD and mood disorders. It’s known on that bus that every child that goes on that bus has a problem of their own and anything could happen at any time,” Edwards explained.
He said Justin was abused as a toddler, before he took possession. Now at age seven, Justin has the mental capacity of a three year old.
He’s upset the bus attendant filed a police report against Justin, which could lead to assault charges.
When asked if Justin assaulted the bus employee. David replied, “He did. I did, yes. I have not seen video of it. I was just told of what he had done.”
FOX 17 asked Justin, “What happened on the bus? Can you just talk to me about what happened on the bus? Justin: Yea, I was just talking about Chuck E. Cheeses, but I took my harness off,” he said.
“[We] got to Courtney’s house and I stood up, and then they tolded me to sit down, I punched her and then I threw my shoe out the window of the bus,” he added.
FOX 17 asked his father, “What do you think the correct disciplinary action is, if any?”
Edwards replied, “What I thought would be disciplining him, keeping him off the bus for a period of time which they normally do.”
Edwards said Justin was suspended from taking the bus for three days. He can go to school, although he missed Tuesday.
The transportation supervisor and the school`s superintendent declined an on camera interview, but said they`re looking into the matter.
They haven`t reached a conclusion. They will review video from the bus. In the end, they’re allowing the bus attendant to decide how she wants to proceed.
41 Comments to “Bus Aide Files Police Report Against 7 Year Old”
February 12, 2013 at 6:26 PM
A big thumbs up to the bus aid!!! When did it become OK for the child to punch a Bus Aide but when a bus aide tries to protect themselves they get into trouble for it. This 7 year old boy who was laughing and smiling away that he Punched the bus aide should be in some kind of legal trouble. If not we are teaching him no matter what he does there are no conquences to his actions. The Father should stand up and say I am sorry my son did this what can we do to correct this situation instead of being mad and trying to generate sympathy when his child admits to hitting a woman.
February 12, 2013 at 8:52 PM
You are just as crazy as the bus attendant. A 7 year old special needs kid, who was abused enough to give him the mental capacity of a 3 year old should be "in some kind of legl trouble" ?? Of course, disciplinary action should be taken, time off the bus, a school suspension, whatever…. I highly doubt, even if there is legal consequences this child would be able to comprehend that.
What would you do to your 3 year old if he/she hit you?? Call the cops…. get real!! Please, do not have children.
February 12, 2013 at 9:03 PM
i have 2 children thank you and my children have issues as well but they are brought up to know not to hit an adult to figure a diffrent way to resolve issues. just bcause he was abusd does not give him the right to punch an adult!
February 12, 2013 at 9:53 PM
You're a piece of shit uneducated cunt. Go fuck yourself, thanks.
Also:
I* two* children,* thank you.* My* well,* adult;* figure out* Just* because* abused,* it does*
You should offer your children to credible, intelligent adults. Learn English before you post ANYTHING on-line, you horrible cunt.
February 13, 2013 at 12:35 AM
Well…judging by your language and temper, i'd say you need special help
February 13, 2013 at 1:07 PM
Her point was made. As for you and your word choices, seriously! Verbally assaulting a woman you don't even know. At least her point was on topic. Do you enjoy reading comments and criticizing people for the writing abilities. Get a life!!!
February 12, 2013 at 10:03 PM
Amber, you are either a narrow minded idiot or you just can't read and missed his stated mental age. If you missed the note, stop reading now because the rest of my rant does not apply to you. If you did recognize the little boy's mental age, please continue reading…
February 12, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Amber, you are either a narrow minded idiot or you just can't read and missed his stated mental age. If you missed the note, stop reading now because the rest of my rant does not apply to you. If you did recognize the little boy's mental age, please continue reading…
Way to comment on something you obviously have ZERO experience with. Do you really have any business commenting on something that you've never dealt with yourself? Children with mental disabilities should not get treated the same as individuals who are not impaired. Do you think a 3-year old should be handled the same as a 7 year old? That is the difference in his mentality compared to the norm.
February 12, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Seriously he is seven with the mental capacity of three! A three year old hits when they dont like something. This child was behaving like any child this age. That bus aid should not be working with special needs children if her/his solution is to file a police report against a three year old. This aid needs to have more training and understanding about the challenges these children can have. So sad to read this. They need to better screen who they hire for these jobs
February 12, 2013 at 11:00 PM
I don't agree that a file is possibly being made, but I do believe that some kind of action needs to be taken. I understand that children with special needs have certain issues, but all children/people have to learn that there are consequences to actions at some point, and as a child, it's typically the easiest because it sticks. You can't let behavior continue just because they have special needs. Again, I don't believe that legal action is the way to go with this, but something behaviorally appropriate needs to be done. Otherwise, we get to a point where people are adults and we excuse abuse as how they deal with issues, so that is okay. Coming from having a sister who has ADD, ADHD, and bi-polar disorder, she needed the discipline, and instead her actions were ignored and viewed as "oh well"…now, she is far from a fully functioning adult. She never graduated high school and can't hold a job because she was never made to understand that her actions have consequences and now believes that others are wrong for not letting her get away with things. A child may have special needs, but they are going to push boundaries just like any other child and you can't just not discipline them because they are special needs.
February 12, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Special needs children are unpredictable. Maybe the child should have a one on one bus aide. If I were the dad I would wonder what made the child aggressive especially if he has no history of being aggressive. School officials do sometimes instigate children.
February 12, 2013 at 8:13 PM
Just maybe, the child "went off" because he wasnt' given his medication that morning. In that case, anything could serve as a trigger. I don't know any of the people or children involved, just sayin.
February 12, 2013 at 8:17 PM
He is a special needs child who was abused young and is known for having a mood disorder.The child should have a consequence. Pressing charges is silly. Had the bus aide been severely hurt then yes press charges or had this been happening repeatedly I could understand, but there is special training for people to take to work with special need kids who can be aggressive so that the aide can protect themselves and others. I work with children who have extreme violent behaviors whose mentality is of three to five year olds and they’re in their teens. Kids with special needs have a harder time learning…they can learn new appropriate behaviors, but it takes time. Slapping a charge on this kid won’t do anything positive for anyone. I have seen adults instigate children to make them go off because they don’t like the kid, so its a good question of what the trigger was to make the kid go off. Most people won’t understand until they’ve worked with special needs children and will be unfortunately extremely judgmental of the situation.
February 13, 2013 at 3:38 PM
I had a child with special needs and she was taught your behavior has cosequence. I also drove a school bus for 27 years.I have seen children with special needs get away with alot. To me they have to be taught that in the reel world they have to go by the same rules as the rest. also schools are given moneies fron the government so they are going to just give a kid a slap on the wrist and say it's alright you just had a bad day.
March 12, 2013 at 4:12 PM
No Jessica, You are wrong there is no training for this job at all in how to protect your self .I too am a Bus Aide in Chicago. I was hurt very bad by a student just last school year and was off almost that whole year and if I would have tried to keep this student from hurting me by protecting my self the video would have painted a different picture. I wish you all would speak what you know and yes they do have issues but it does not make it right to hurt someone.
February 12, 2013 at 8:37 PM
This child was NEVER abused as a child! I know that for a fact! I do know that Justin and 6 year old sister Madison are being abused in the home now and Kzoo CPS won’t do anything about it b/c they have been to the home too many times!
February 12, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Anonymous,,, you sound like a mom who is pissed off she got her kids taken away
February 12, 2013 at 8:52 PM
and really to press charges against a 7 year old who only has the mental capacity of a 3 year old… come on!!!
February 12, 2013 at 9:15 PM
@Jessica Medemar…….EXCELLANT, INTELLIGENT POST……..as a mom who raised an ADHD child to adulthood and a grandmother of a 8 yr old with Autism/tourettes among other disorders, Jessica Medemar has hit the nail right on the head………
February 12, 2013 at 9:50 PM
Poor kid! I imagine he is EI (emotional impaired) as well as CI (Cognitive impaired) labeled. If so, I would have thought he would be protected from this type of action. As an aide who is assigned to these special kids, I would think they would know that this could happen and would have received training in order to handle it. If this aide cannot handle this part of her job, she should not be in that position. Get real people, he has a disability, it is NOT the same as a mainstreamed child being disrespectful or violent. Way to add to the stress on the family!!
February 12, 2013 at 11:07 PM
Now I am just the dumb one here but this is a 7 year old with a mental capacity of a 3 year old. So when he is 14 he will have the mental capacity of a 6-7 year old. Why is he riding the bus. His character displays that he has no idea what he did, therefor when he is 14 and stabs another child than it will be okay? Because he has the mental capacity of a 6-7 year old? The child needs to have record created and if charges are necessary so be it. This child could be the next Shady Brook disaster. Be accountable for you children and make arrangements. If you have a special needs child you take them to school and do not risk them hurting or causing an accident because he distracted the driver. This child may not understand the charges but if there is a pattern he can be helped. Is it not that we need to help these mentally handicapped individuals? Lets step up and be accountable. If you have a special needs child do not expect the state to provide services for it, you wanted the child you have to have the economic means to support it. And if that means paying someone to drive him/her to school than that is your responsibility. He not only hit her but threw a shoe which could of caused an accident. NO more bus rides for him and if I were a parent that had a child on that bus I would pursue it to the fullest extent. My children ms-behaved I took care of the problem and right now they are productive citizens and is that not what raising children is all about?
February 13, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Actually, linear development is wishful thinking. When he is 14, he may have the development of a 4 or 5 year old. The child needs help understanding that he did something wrong – the judicial system isn't designed for that.
February 13, 2013 at 7:21 AM
Other parents who have kids on that bus probably understand. There are other ways to give this kid a “rap sheet” without pressing charges. Some of the kids I work with ride a bus to school and they are harnessed in just like this kid was and they too manage to get out and hit another kid for the heck of it and these kids are very low functioning. No their mentality does not change. Kids with special needs usually plateau with their learning or mental capacity. They’ll be fifty still with the mentality of a three year old. What he needs is some behavioral therapy and some aba tutoring. Like I said before if you have never worked with special need children who can become violent then you won’t understand. Go volunteer with some special need kids.There’s St.Johns, Wedgewood, Hope Network, and some other places I’m sure that would love the extra help…then maybe more people can gain an understanding or better perspective. I agree if this kid doesn’t get help now it could lead to more extreme behaviors. Where I work staff have been hurt badly, including myself, but that’s why the kids are there to get help.
February 13, 2013 at 12:37 AM
Amber is %100 correct, being abused is not a free ticket to act as you please, although it has become the well used excuse on the books.
February 13, 2013 at 2:21 AM
Justin has been abused physically by his father and sexually by a realitive of his step-mother. This does NOT justify the way Justin acts, but it sure doesn’t help! This is a sad, sad case! I feel like the appropriate action to be taken would to have Justin kicked off the bus and be taken to school until the investigation is complete!
February 13, 2013 at 8:24 AM
who ever this is don't know anything. and Jessica if this is you your just mad cause the kids were taken away from you.
February 13, 2013 at 7:08 AM
oh,stop it! the police? really? REALLY???!!!!
February 13, 2013 at 8:07 AM
This child is and was abused. Cps has been called many times. He has been thrown off the bus numerous times for this behavior just like the father said " in the past they throw him off for a couple days". This father also uses the system for help and begs for charity while he is busy putting money into things like speakers and rims for his vehicle. Maybe he should use some of his time and energy to help his son more. I am not the childs mother, but I am someone who knows them. I was not surprised to see this happen and I feel the child needs more help than any of the parents are willing to give him. Maybe we need to not blame the child so much as we should be looking at the parents in this situation.
February 13, 2013 at 8:28 AM
This child also has a very long history of violence against other kids and teachers. When he gets in too much trouble then the parent changes schools before anything can really happen. This child needs special help that these parents are not getting him unless it helps them financially. If they don't like what the doctor or counselor say they change. When cps is called they lie. Their neighbors and friends call trying to help these kids get the help they need. These parents are NOT the parent of the year like it is portrayed all of them the real mom and dad and the step mom all need parenting classes anger management and these kids need HELP. This is where the system is failing!!!!!
February 13, 2013 at 8:59 AM
I think you need to get a life. you only post the bad and none of the good. sure the parents may have had issue previously but no one tells that counceling was completed and the kids are doing better than ever. no the people on here that are posting shit will only post the bad. some of the comments on here are from certain people that are jealous that the kids got taken away from them and the others are just ones that have no life and want to make sure they are heard (megan)(jessica). Get a life and grow up.
February 13, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Just so you know I am neither of those people. I am not related. But I do have a lot of inside information in regards to this issue. I can tell you that social media is part of why I know so much as well as I am a friend to the parents who has had enough of their outrageous lies. Quite honestly I find it sickening that these kids are suffering at the hands of their parents and morons like you are the exact reason child abusers continue to get away with their actions.
February 13, 2013 at 3:30 PM
the school he goes to is for behavioral kids. i am not a parent of special needs but i have worked with them and until u do have one or be in contact daily how can you judge.
February 13, 2013 at 7:31 PM
I do have one for your info….
February 13, 2013 at 12:15 PM
My sister had the same situation. She has an Autistic son and he is large for his age. But kids continually pick on him and one day he snapped. He was about 8 years ago and was choking the kid who picked on him. The school called and he was no longer allowed to ride the bus. No she did not call the news she just did what was needed. She drives him to school everyday. Now they moved and she still drives him to the new school and he is getting more advanced help with the new school. She does what is right. And yes i too would make a police report who knows if this kid gets 18 and tries to purchase a gun their will be a paper trail to show in his background. This is where we need to be accountable for the mental health of our kids. Schools aren’t meant to teach kids appropriate behavior it is for reading, writing, math ect. I would hate to see this home for an evening of chaos.
February 13, 2013 at 1:07 PM
I work with special needs children also and for a 7yr old with a 3yr old mentality he sure did talk extremely well and new exactly what he did and why. Also with his special needs WHY is he playing by a busy road on a snow pile? _
February 13, 2013 at 1:11 PM
I AM A GOOD FRIEND OF THE PARENTS AND I KNOW FIRST HAND THEY WOULD NEVER HURT THEM AND ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR THEM THAT’S WHY THE FATHER HAS BOTH OF THE CHILDREN AND EVERY CPS CASE THAT HAS CAME UP WAS OPEN AND SHUT I THINK HE JUST IS TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE LOOK AT THIS WOMEN PUTTING CHARGES ON A 7 YEAR OLD WITH ADD ADHA AND MOOD DISORDERS
February 13, 2013 at 1:20 PM
this is the father I love both my kids the only reason for getting ahold of fox 17 was to show that this women would file a charge of assalt on a 7year old boy with disabilities and knowing his disabilities and what could happen please put your self in my shoes for one min and.ask your self what would u have done I have my kids and always will and for saying I’m trying to gane something out of it what is there to gane nothing that’s right I just want this lady to know.what she did was.wrong.by fileing a police report my son had no right to hit her but there where other ways.to handle it
February 13, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Did anyone of you read that he's been kicked off before? That's not working!! It's time for Justin to move to a more specialized school. That distraction of punching his aide could have caused a distraction to the driver to cause an accident. Which one of you wants your child on that bus?
February 13, 2013 at 9:47 PM
So now he wants FATHER OF THE YEAR b/c the media was involved…NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!!
February 15, 2013 at 7:33 AM
No I don’t want a father of the year I wanted to see how I could help my son that is all it was not about me his mom or any thing else but for keeping him from a rap sheet I am a good dad and I am working with a lot of people to help show him right from wrong and competition of parinting classes and and conceling should show I do care I am not the best parent by far but I do try
February 16, 2013 at 9:04 AM
It is unfortunate that the media was contacted to interview a child. Children learn cause and effect at a very young age, especially children thriving for attention. Negative attention, positive attention, it doesn’t really matter if there is not a different result when the child misbehaves. Disabilities, handicaps etc. are not an excuse for anyone to act in a violent manner and perhaps this is all the child knows. I am sure the attendant was acting on behalf of what was indicated by the school in order to protect the school, the attendant and provide a “paper trail” in regards to this child’s behavior. Clearly he has a past.
There is never an excuse for violence, this child needs to learn and have consequences to his behavior. Shame on “Dad” for contacting the news channel, way to make the child feel like a “star” after misbehaving. If this or something similar occurs again, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise especially after all the attention his is getting now.
On another note, those that are cursing and name calling on this post sound very ignorant.
I weep for future generations.