WATERLOO | A school bus monitor has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a troublesome student.
Police allege 56-year-old Sandra Ann Shelby struck the 11-year-old boy in the head and pushed her thumbs into his eyes during the scuffle on Friday, according to court records.
Waterloo police arrested Shelby, of 1321 Calhoun St., Monday at the police station for assault causing bodily injury. She was released from jail the same day.
The student had minor injuries, including a scratch on his nose next to his eyes and scratches on his neck, according to the police reports.
Waterloo school officials said they were informed about the incident.
Officials at Durham Bus Services, which contracts with the district for transportation, said Shelby has been placed on leave.
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“We are investigating the incident and cooperating with the Waterloo schools and the local authorities in Waterloo who are also reviewing the matter. The school bus monitor has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” spokeswoman Molly Hart said in a prepared release.
The struggle happened about 9:10 a.m. while Shelby was working as a bus monitor on Route No. 7 as the bus stopped to unload children at Highland Elementary School.
The student was being disciplined for causing a disturbance on the bus with another child when he tried to push past Shelby and leave. The monitor pushed back, grabbed the student and put him back in a seat.
A short time later, the student got up, and Shelby pushed him again, and the student then took a closed-fist swing at her, court records state.
That’s when Shelby swung at the student, striking the back of his head, court records state. She allegedly grabbed him around the neck, forcing him back into the seat and pressed her thumbs into his eyes, according to court records.
School officials declined to say if the student was disciplined.