Charges Filed In School Bus Assault

Assault and battery charges have been filed against two teenagers in connection with an assault on another teen on a Glenpool school bus in late January.

Friday, April 25th 2008, 9:33 am

By: News On 6

Charges have been filed against two high school boys accused of beating up a seventh grader on a school bus. Now the victim's mother says it's too little, too late.

The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports the District Attorney's Office has filed assault and battery charges against two Glenpool teens. But even though charges have been filed, the Dalton Woodring's mother says it should never have gotten this far.

"One kid had him pinned down in his seat, knuckle punching the back of his head. And another kid was holding a cigarette lighter to his chin, trying to catch him on fire," said Woodring.

Woodring says her son was assaulted on the bus for almost two miles. And she says the bus driver never once stopped. Instead he just kept on driving, and dropped him off at his regular bus stop.

"A little girl had even gone to the bus driver to let him know that there was a fight going on. The bus driver's response was he just wanted them off the bus. He didn't stop, he didn't phone, he didn't try to intervene," said Woodring.

The Tulsa District Attorney has filed assault and battery charges. For months Glenpool Middle School refused to give police the surveillance tape.

"They tried to hold the information as tight as they could," said Woodring.

Danna Garland, the school principal, says the tape wasn't turned over because of student privacy.

Woodring doesn't buy it.

"It wasn't in the school's best interest, and it wasn't in my son's best interest," said Woodring.

Woodring says her son still suffers from the fight.

"Unable to sleep, won't eat, he went down to 70 pounds, he was on ulcer medication, he didn't want to go to school," said Woodring.

She says that even though criminal charges have been filed, her son won't be the same again.

Police say one of the teenage suspects in this case was involved in another school assault a few weeks after the fight. A police report was filed and that case will be reviewed by the DA's office.

4/15/2008 Police Investigate Alleged Assault