Global Courant 2023-05-31 05:21:20
An Upper Darby, Pennsylvania school bus driver is facing serious charges after he allegedly used duct tape to restrain a 10-year-old student on his way to an elementary school in March.
Juliet Pratt, 54, has been charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering a child’s welfare and assault.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the charges against Pratt in a press release Tuesday.
“Bus drivers are entrusted with a huge responsibility every time they get behind the wheel,” the prosecutor said. “In addition to being safe drivers, we also expect them to treat the children in their care with dignity and respect. Using duct tape on a child who was already completely restrained in the vehicle’s harness was not only inexcusable, it was also dangerous.”
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Juliet Pratt is accused of using duct tape to restrain a student on a school bus. (Delaware County District Attorneys Office)
Stollsteimer explained that if an accident had happened, the 10-year-old boy would not have been able to free himself.
On March 8, 2023, Upper Darby Police Department officers responded to Hillcrest Elementary School in Drexel Hill after reports of a 10-year-old being assaulted by a bus driver.
An investigation related to the video surveillance review showed that Pratt allegedly used duct tape to restrain the student by wrapping it around his chest and ankles.
According to Stollsteimer, the student was already on the bus in a safety harness provided by the district.
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American school bus used regularly to transport students to and from school. Transport industry. (iStock)
When the bus arrived at the school, Pratt used a seatbelt cutter to remove the tape holding the child, the prosecutor noted, adding that the student was never seen trying to get out of his seat or get through the bus. to move.
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“There is simply no excuse for this behavior and that is why these charges have been brought,” Stollsteimer said.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
