Board votes to fire man who was arrested while driving bus

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Tulsa school board decides to terminate the employment of a school bus driver who was arrested while driving a bus. <br/><br/>The board voted unanimously to dismiss 30-year-old Patrick

Friday, October 21st 2005, 6:25 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Tulsa school board decides to terminate the employment of a school bus driver who was arrested while driving a bus.

The board voted unanimously to dismiss 30-year-old Patrick Jess Rodriguez following a more than four-hour appeal hearing yesterday.

Rodriguez was jailed on outstanding traffic warrants after he was caught speeding in a school zone while driving a bus near East Central High School in late August. Police also found that his driver's license had been suspended for driving without insurance and for not paying traffic tickets.

Rodriguez was immediately suspended from his duties as a bus driver and mechanic. He had been hired in January 2002.

The board found that Rodriguez pleaded guilty in 2003 to possession of a controlled drug and possession of drug paraphernalia in Rogers County.