Bus Driver Choking Child

DALLAS - New information has revealed that both Dallas County and the Dallas Independent School District attempted to brush an incident, in which a bus driver choked a student on a school bus, under the rug.

Claudia Nava was recently shown video of her son, who is a mentally challenged-bipolar student, being choked by a bus driver in reaction to his misbehavior on a bus. The incident happened in January, but Nava was never informed of it or shown the video until News 8 brought it to her attention.

And while Nava was never privy to the choking, neither was the Dallas Police Department when it came to the details of the case.

Detective C.L. Williams said the district did follow protocol and send DPD a suspected child abuse report. However, now it appears there was some missing information.

"There was nothing in it that jumped out at us screaming this needs to be attended to immediately," he said.

Williams said DISD told them the case would be handled administratively, which led detectives to close the case. But when the DPD was informed of the suspected abuse case, they were never told of the video tape.

"I do think it should have been brought to our attention that there was a tape involved," Williams said.

Ten months passed before Dallas police revisited the case to get the full story.

"I agree retrospectively we should have probably done more," Williams said.

County documents also show higher ups questioned telling Nava what happened.

"My concern is once I advise the principal he will inform the parent," read an e-mail from an area director.

While Nava admits her son does have behavioral problems, she said that is why she requested a monitor on the bus. The day of the incident, the monitor couldn't make it.

"This is going to not end here," Nava said. "I think my son deserves better."

As for the driver, Janet Pitts, she wouldn't comment, which may be explained in another e-mail. Referencing a conversation between Pitts and an assistant superintendant, the county wrote that Pitts "got the hint not to talk to reporters."

Nava said it all appears to be a cover-up and said she is ready to fight for her son and other special education students.

"They're human beings," she said.

Nava said step one of her battle will to see the driver stand before a grand jury.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Bus
• Driver
• Choking
• Child

[mrjamestferguson]

What goes around, comes around!

and/or

You can't escape bad Karma!

and/or

GOD is watching!

I sleep much better at night KNOWING one or all of the above applies!

[XxServalcat24xX]

sad sht

[mrjamestferguson]

...never seems to stop, either!

[mrjamestferguson]

That happened in mid January of this year and is just now being brought to light!

[MsAnthropy]

My severly autistic son had his lunch money stolen every day on the bus (those of you with autistic children know their strapped in one to a seat). He couldn't tell me what was going on so I did my own investigation with his teacher. It turns out the matron on the bus was taking his money. I ended up with a $70.00 bill and they wouldn't release his teasts score or report card unless I paid. When I confronted the principal she swept it under the rug.

[sunny5rising]

OMG!

I say the bus driver is the one that is mentally ill.

If someone did that to my autistic son, they would be seriously hurting for a long time, along with those that tried to hide it.

[loGanPG13]

This aint a shocker

[QUINTUSMAXIMUS]

@mrjamestferguson Are you really shocked that DISD covered it up? DISD covers many, many, many things all the time. It's normal. They want to cover up things because this stuff looks embarassing to the administrators who like their jobs, and the businessmen who have lots of investments in Dallas don't like such embarassments. DISD always tries cover its own butt.

[eltejano1100]

Freaken sad thumbs up if agreeee

[xunkownx499]

that kinda happened to one of my friends once and i was a witness

[lilwarriorprincess]

omg just seeing this really pissed me off big time. That fuckn bitch of a driver needs anger management classes, either that or she should just fuckn quit. To the boys mom, Im sorry this happened and your right: even special needs ppl DESERVE respect, even the ones who cant speak up for themselves. This is why Im goin to a conference in a few days: 2 be a voice 4 the 1s who cant speak and 2 speak up 4 their rights. Im a special needs adult as well too and seeing this made me want 2 kick her ass

[80LaDonna]

How dare that buss driver, she needs to be straped to a bus seat and get beat! The chalenged are out angels from God and she will have to stand in front of him some day! I hope this family gets PAID!!! God knows they probley need it, having children with disabilites is very expensive. God Bless this family!

[MsAnthropy]

I told the superintendant and he did nothing until I said I would press charges and get the news involved. Things have been resolved with my son, but unfortunately she still works for the transportation dep. It's sad when people take advantage of those who cant speak for themselves!

[MsAnthropy]

When I confronted the head of the school board he suggested I just write a check.Then I confronted the matron and said I was going to get the police involved, and she got very defensive and threw my sons backpack at me.