Police say man arrested after intervening in school bus fight with knife
BY JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9/11/12 at 5:05 PM
A man was arrested last week on accusations that he forced his way onto a Tulsa Public Schools bus and threatened a juvenile with a knife, police said.
Curtis Monroe, 38, remains in the Tulsa Jail following Friday’s arrest on one complaint of assault with a dangerous weapon on a minor.
About 4:30 p.m. Friday, police were called to a disturbance on a school bus in the 3300 block of East Woodrow Place.
Officers learned from witnesses that a fight had broken out on the bus and a couple of people outside the bus attempted to intervene. The bus served McLain Junior High School, school officials said.
Two people, including Monroe, “forced the door open” on the bus, Officer Leland Ashley said. Monroe pulled out a knife and attempted to assault a 14-year-old who was fighting, police said.
Ashley said it was unclear what his relationship was to the juveniles who were fighting.
The bus was then emptied, including those who were fighting, Ashley said.
A juvenile on the other side of the fight from Monroe had a “baseball bat-type stick,” but it’s unclear if that juvenile assaulted another student. He was arrested for obstruction and later released to a parent, Ashley said.
Monroe fled the scene when he learned police were on their way, according to his arrest report. He crossed the street and dropped the knife, witnesses told police.
He was found later in the area and arrested, police said.
Ashley said parents should exercise restraint in dealing with conflicts on the school bus and avoid taking matters into their own hands. Ashley said parents should contact the school district or the school’s police department if their student is experiencing problems on the bus.
Chris Payne, a spokesman with Tulsa Public Schools, said there had been a history of issues with that bus route.
“There have been bullying and other issues on this particular bus route, and we have had a terminal manager assigned to following it,” Payne said. “The students involved have been suspended from the bus while we investigate the incident, and they may or may not be riding the bus in the future, depending upon what we learn.”
Associated Images:
Curtis Monroe
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