WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A school bus attendant in Winter Haven is going through fees after police say she hit an 11-year-old scholar with a belt 9 occasions.
Loni Covington, 33, is charged with prison kid abuse with out physically hurt.
According to a press free up, the grandmother of the sufferer filed a record on Nov. 17 after she realized of the incident with the belt and two others involving Covington. It’s unclear if the record was once filed with the police or the school.
Police stated officials realized that on Nov. 15, the 11-year-old sufferer was once status up at the bus whilst it moved, and when she noticed the boy status, Covington informed any other scholar to take off their belt. Police stated Covington took the belt, folded it up, and hit the sufferer with it 9 occasions.
Covington allegedly informed police right through an interview on Feb. 28 that she informed the boy to take a seat down, he talked again, and she or he were given the belt from the opposite scholar. Police added that she informed them she used the belt to hit the ground and the again of the bus seat.
According to police, she later stated she did not take into accout if the belt hit the sufferer however that detectives realized thru video proof that the belt did make touch with the sufferer 9 occasions.
The grandmother of the sufferer informed police that at the day it came about, she took photos of belt marks at the boy’s facet and again to turn Polk County School Transportation.
Police stated the sufferer’s grandmother has custody of him and two different youngsters who experience the similar bus and that she informed them about two different incidents at the bus that concerned Covington.
On Nov. 14, the 11-year-old informed his grandmother that Covington allegedly flicked him at the ear and neck whilst at the bus. The following day was once when the youngsters stated Covington hit the 11-year-old with the belt.
The day after that, on Nov. 16, one of the opposite youngsters informed their grandmother that Covington grabbed her by way of the wrist and took an image out of her hand, police stated.
The youngsters additionally alleged that Covington would make all 3 of them sit down at the similar seat, which was once designed to carry two children, and that after the bus would flip, whoever was once at the edge of the seat would fall off.
Winter Haven Police stated an investigation was once began after they have been knowledgeable of the alleged abuse. It’s unclear when that was once.
Detectives interviewed Covington on Feb. 28, however it is unclear when she was once taken into custody. Her arrest was once introduced on Thursday.
The Polk County School Board launched the next remark:
“This is unacceptable behavior for anyone who works with children. We appreciate the Winter Haven Police Department for conducting a thorough investigation and helping us protect our students.”