Bus mugging prompts questions about safety

By: DAN SIMMONS - Staff Writer
Mom: how safe are kids on public buses? | Friday, December 28, 2007 9:31 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO -- Kevin Stevenson can tell you exactly how to get to Bear Valley Middle School, or anywhere else in a four-county area. The high-functioning autistic 12-year-old has largely memorized Thomas Guides to San Diego, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

But he learned the hard way that getting from point A to point B can be harder than just knowing all the right turns.

On Nov. 2, a group of up to 10 fellow junior high students is accused of teasing and shoving him aboard North County Transit District bus No. 350, stealing his bus pass and cell phone and leaving him with no way home once he got to the transfer station at the Escondido Transit Center.

Escondido school resource officer Marco Sevilla arrested four of the alleged attackers, ages 13 and 14, after an investigation. Three face misdemeanor charges, while the fourth faces a felony charge of strong-arm robbery.

But Stevenson's mother, Lisa, said the incident never should have happened and points to the inherent dangers of school-age students riding public transportation.

"I've always told him, 'Don't worry, there's an adult (driver) on board,' " she said. "But in this case, the adult didn't pull over or anything."

School, transit and police officials said such discipline problems among schoolchildren on public buses are extremely rare. Sevilla said the incident is the first assault he's heard of in 2 1/2 years as a school resource officer.

But Lisa Stevenson said she's heard stories from other parents of widespread cell phone robberies on buses, stories that either don't get reported or don't get taken seriously by police.

Transit spokesman Tom Kelleher said that drivers are instructed to turn the bus around and go back to the school if there are problems. But in the alleged assault, the driver wasn't aware of any trouble, he said.

"When you've got a bus full of students, and they're hollering and making a lot of commotion, it's a pretty tough environment to discern something happened unless someone tells the driver," he said.

Stevenson was riding the bus home from school when the group, all standing on the crowded bus, allegedly assaulted him, according to the police report. He couldn't transfer at the Escondido Transit Center because he had no bus pass. A group of high school students approached him, learned of his predicament and gave him money for the ride home.

While there aren't adult monitors on buses, Kelleher said every bus has at least seven cameras rolling from different angles at all times. However, when police and transit authorities checked the tape from the day of Stevenson's assault, the footage no longer existed, having been taped over because it was five days later, Kelleher said.

Although satisfied with the arrests, Lisa Stevenson said she's still not satisfied with the safety measures on buses for children. She said her son's example shows it's next to impossible for a single driver to keep a bus full of rambunctious students safe.

Kevin Stevenson has not taken the public bus since the incident, instead opting for a school bus provided to students with special needs. It's the only school bus provided to students at the middle school. Lisa Stevenson said she supported her son taking the public bus and doesn't like the precedent set by the incident.

"Now, he's on the school bus and the kids who don't know how to behave are still on the public bus," she said.

Kelly Prins, an assistant superintendent with the Escondido Union School District, said that while she regrets the incident, she's satisfied with the way the district, police and transit officials settled it.

"I think the issues have been addressed the best the district could do," she said.

Contact staff writer Dan Simmons at (760) 740-5426 or dsimmons@nctimes.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

B wrote on Dec 29, 2007 2:16 AM:It's pretty amazing that busloads of kids travel without an adult chaperone to support the driver. Obviously it all comes down to the cost of paying another adult per bus, but I guess the kids aren't worth it.

Ralphie wrote on Dec 29, 2007 5:32 AM:This isn't surprising at all. A lot of those kids carry knives! The same kinda thing is gonna happen on the sprinter, just wait and see.

AResident wrote on Dec 29, 2007 7:11 AM:Time to take back the streets people. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Too many kids have no parents that care.

K wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:46 AM:You see, now that bothers me. How come the tape was erased??? Because of a five day loop system? What is that? I think that the NC Transit District should have to hold onto those tape for more than five days, because of a problem like this. I also hope those students do not get a slap on the hand for this. They should have to pay a nice stiff fee, & do community service in a special needs center as well. Can't wait to see what's going to happen on the sprinter.

Stu wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:09 AM:I drove a bus for NCTD for over two decades. On a crowded bus, especially when it is fully of middle school kids, the driver has virtually no control. In the days before cameras, drivers were pretty much on their own, especially when ... was the west division supervisor. We were told that it was our fault if we could not get along with the kids. We were, essentially, bad parents. It was a bad situation, and I was never so glad when I was able to bid away from it.

Nate wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:34 AM:Some of these kids emulate their brethern in gangland. They cannot be controlled except through harsh discipline, which is not found in their home. You children must take their chances on Nobody Cares Transit District (NCTD).

Catbone wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:36 AM:Too true, Ralph! Due to a medical condition, I've recently been riding the buses. They're all scratched up inside by kids with knives. I saw it happen once! The same thing will be happening on the sprinter, guaranntee!

To B wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:32 PM:The real problem here is that NCTD does not run sufficient buses during the peak school hours. This problem has existed for years. When I found out the reason my kids hated riding the bus to SP was because the never got a seat and were groped by male students my schedule was rearranged so that they didn't step foot on those buses. Not everyone has that luxury, nor the luxury of even their own car to get their kids to school. The problem lies squarely with NCTD and the school district I believe. How safe is it just in general to have kids standing all the way down Bear Valley Parkway, not to mention the goings on that can (and do)occur in that crowded situation?
Both entities need to step up to the plate and ensure safe transport for our kids.

Dennis wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:08 PM:I'm single but I have ridden the buses at after school time. If your not in a set your better get to one. There is harly room. they keep packing in till the bus just wont hold any more. Who's at fault people? YOU ARE! Those kids are not going to wait for the next bus, just like you YELLOW LIGHT Runner's. Where it's really your fault, Pay for school buses then, we all know how that's going to come out. Don't blam the driver you got to tell them then not 5 day's later. No excuse for that.

esteban wrote on Dec 31, 2007 11:51 AM:Don't blame the buses guys...blame MTV and the video games that allow it to be cool to be a gang thug. Kids nowadays are savages. Mix that with poverty and parents who cannot or will not control them, and you have a future inmate.

Gary wrote on Jan 2, 2008 5:19 PM:To "To B wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:32 PM:" You really want to know the real problem. The real problem is that parents do not ride on the buses with thier kids. NCTD Has done what they can to ensure the safety of patrons on the buses. You really cant blame the drivers also, because they drive the bus! I also like the fact that this story comes out over a month from when it occured. This is really old news, and the incident was investigaed by EPD and the Transit Officers. I guess they dont really have to much to complaint about now a days, do they.

Tricia wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:12 PM:Another issue to consider is that these middle school perpetrators are same hoodlums our children with developmental disabilities are forced to deal with daily in the public school setting. Unfortunately, our autistic children are frequently targets of harassment and bullying by these type of students. It is my understanding some of the Bear Valley Middle school students who committed the assault and robbery were on "in-school" suspensions for previous violent acts against other students and teachers. Should they have even been attending the public school, let alone traveling on public transportation unchaparoned with other children? I see Ms. Prins from EUSD writes "the issues have been addressed the best the district could do". Is this REALLY the best the district can do? We think not.

joan volter wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:29 PM:I do not understand what the point of having a camera on the bus. If they are not responsible for their passengers, why should they even bother? Pretty soon we'll have drunk driving bus drivers like drunk airline pilots.
Joan

Jennifer wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:23 AM:Yes, there are deeper stories here than what is printed. You have the abuse that just continues from the school to after school when these bullies are no longer supervised, not that they are properly supervised or reprimanded at school to stop this behavior. Why it took 5 days to investigate a violent criminal act and why THIS is considered either standard or acceptable is shameful. This is not only dangerous for the other children, but for other citizens and for the bus driver. For this type of behavior to be going on a moving vehicle in rush hour traffic has to be distracting and is a danger to other drivers and pedestrians. Why is THAT acceptable? Where was the school district in offering transportation for the student in the first place in their IEP? What are the police doing to follow up on this particular bus and these particular student who are a safety risk for the bus driver and everyone on the entire bus route? What is the school going to do when these students get caught on the bus committing crimes? These are stories I'd like to read.

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