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School Bus Driver Arraigned on Driving With Suspended License, Other Arrest Warrants

Posted at 6:06 PM, Apr 01, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-01 20:33:54-04

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER’S SON TALKS TO FOX 17 ABOUT HIS FATHER HERE

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (April 1, 2014) — Battle Creek Public Schools bus driver Kevin Frederick, 46, was arraigned for driving on a suspended license Tuesday afternoon. The judge also addressed several other warrants.

Frederick pleaded not guilty to retail fraud. It’s a crime believed to have taken place in September 2013. FOX 17 learned that Frederick failed to appear for a list of other accusations.

Araignment

46-year-old Kevin Frederick

That includes allowing charges of  theft and driving on a suspended license.

He also pleaded not guilty to the suspended license charge Tuesday afternoon.

Monday morning, Battle Creek police say Frederick was in a minor accident when they discovered his driving status and outstanding warrants. That was after possibly dropping kids off at school.

We spoke with the district’s leadership coach about this yesterday.

“Well, bus drivers are obligated to let us know if they lose their license. It’s in their contract. So it is possible that someone, ya know, forgot to tell us,” Karen Hart, the district’s leadership coach said.

FOX 17 called around to other school districts to learn their policy for criminal background checks and checking driving records.

By state law, prospective school employees must be fingerprinted as part of a criminal background check. It’s also state law for school employees to inform their districts if they’re charged with a crime. Frederick allegedly avoided authorities.

Grand Rapids Public Schools contracts with Dean Transportation. A spokesperson said Dean and GRPS check on criminal background and driving records prior to employment.

The transportation supervisor with Rockford Schools said the checks are made for its prospective employes. Rockford also receives quarterly reports on their bus staff’s driving records at random through the secretary of state. A spokesperson with Kalamazoo Public Schools says KPS has a similar practice.

Frederick is due back in court for his suspended license charge on April 16.