Riolico, Arizona — Tucson News 4 A disturbing video was obtained Monday of a bus driver for the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District being attacked by a man at a bus stop.

In the video, a young child can be heard arguing with a bus driver and says, “Push my brother again” in a threatening manner.

Moments later, a man is heard taunting the driver and ordering him to get off the bus. The man got on the bus and punched the driver in the face. I hear the driver moan in pain.

The man got off the bus and continued to curse the driver.

The incident occurred on bus number 43 during an afternoon drop-off along busy Camino Caralampi Avenue near Rio Rico Plaza.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has responded and is investigating what happened.

“We are talking to other students. We are talking to staff. Told.

Castillo said they were still trying to find the man who hit the driver.

“We have tried to contact people of interest, but to no avail at this time,” Castillo said.

He said the driver refused medical assistance and they don’t know his condition.

Linda Ramos said her two sons were on bus number 43 and claimed the bus driver was aggressive and abusive to her 9-year-old son.

“Since the first day, this bus driver has made my son cry.

Her son said she pulled a leash the driver was wearing and choked him on Monday, the day of the assault.

“I got up once to see where the stop was so I could go home. So as I walked over, he started choking me and helped my brother get off the bus,” he said. Told.

Ramos claims to have reported the bus driver to the school district and sheriff’s office, but said they didn’t take her seriously.

And nothing was done. The police didn’t take any statements or reports or anything and they never gave me a case number so I could go get the report,” Ramos said.

Castillo said Ramos reported similar allegations on March 21, but she refused to allow detectives to interview her son. He said she threatened to sue her and hired her lawyer.

Castillo said Ramos reported the suffocation incident on Monday, about 30 minutes before the bus driver was attacked.

“We just got the information,” Castillo said.

Castillo said it was actively investigating the allegations against the driver and the attacks against him. Even if any of his claims were true, he said what happened on that bus was an unacceptable reaction.

“Do not take this type of allegation into your own hands, whether it happened or not. Let law enforcement intervene,” he explained.

Ramos knew nothing about the assault on the driver and didn’t know who did it because she wasn’t there.

The school district sent a warning to parents shortly after the assault.

“Hello family.

On April 3, 2023, there was an argument on the afternoon route school bus. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office responded to the case. The district has contacted parents of students who regularly ride the bus. Investigation is ongoing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

The safety and well-being of our staff and students is always our top priority and we will continue to work with local law enforcement to ensure their safety. “

The school district responded as follows:

“An incident occurred on the SCV35 school bus and was reported to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department and is currently under investigation.

SCV35 has no record of responding to your request at this time and cannot comment on personnel issues or incidents currently under investigation.

However, each time a complaint is made against an employee who alleges misconduct, the school district will investigate the matter and take appropriate corrective action if necessary. “

With assaults and swirling allegations against drivers, Rio Rico residents are divided on what to think about the situation.

“As a parent, I think I would have done the same,” said Latitia Tishkin.

“I’m a little worried because there are two different sides to the story. We need to know what really happened,” said Zora Perez.

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