Punta Gorda bus fight
| Date | May 17, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Time | Afternoon |
| Location | Punta Gorda, Florida |
| Cause | Bus driver tells to put seat belt on, and Mark Earnest Dickinson cursing at driver |
| Target | Corey Gene Hendershot (original), and Mark Earnest Dickinson |
| Participants | Corey Gene Hendershot, Mark Earnest Dickinson, and Albert Taylor |
| Outcome | Albert Taylor (suspended 20 days, no jail time),[1] Corey Gene Hendershot and Mark Earnest Dickson (charges dropped) |
| Arrests | Corey Gene Hendershot, Mark Earnest Dickinson, and Albert Taylor |
| Charges | Corey Gene Hendershot and Mark Earnest Dickinson (originally felony),[2] Albert Taylor (misdemeanor)[2] |
On May 17, 2005, a bus fight broke out in Punta Gorda, Florida between 15-year old Mark Earnest Dickinson and 66-year old bus driver Albert Taylor. The fight started after Taylor told 13-year old Corey Gene Hendershot to put his seat belt on and sit up front, in which Hendershot refused to do both. Taylor then went to the back of the bus, and Dickinson cursed at the driver. Taylor then slapped Dickinson, as well as grabbing his throat, and Dickinson was seen in the video punching the driver. The two boys involved in the fight were charged with third-degree felony, while the bus driver was charged with misdemeanor. In addition, the bus driver was suspended for 20 days, and was moved into a new job within the school district. On June 1, 2005, charges against Dickinson and Hendershot were dropped.
Incident[edit]
The incident began on May 17, 2005 when Albert Taylor pulled the bus over due to disruption by students. A student named Corey Gene Hnedershot was seen telling Taylor “Watch your mouth”.[3] According to sheriff reports, Taylor was attempting to put a seat belt on Hendershot and tell him to sit up front, in which he refused to do both.[2] While Taylor was walking to the back of the bus, Mark Earnest Dickinson was “cursing” at the driver.[2] In the video, Taylor then slapped Dickinson in the face, as well as grabbing his throat.[2] Hendershot was also seen telling the bus driver to “get off him”, and Dickinson was seen punching and pushing the driver.[2] The boys demanded to be off the bus, with one of them telling the driver he “is going to jail”.[4] At the time of the fight, the two boys, Dickinson and Hendershot, attended Punta Gorda Middle School.[5]
Outcome[edit]
On May 18, 2005, Albert Taylor, Corey Gene Hendershot, and Mark Earnest Dickinson were arrested for their roles in the fight. Taylor was suspended without pay, and district spokesman Mike Riley warned that Taylor's actions could put his job with the school district in jeopardy.[6] Hendershot and Dickinson both were expected to face felony charges, but their mother Sherri Shaw appeared on NBC’s show Today questioning why they would face felony charges.[2] In addition, she also questioned why Taylor was only expected to face misdemeanor charges.[2] Attorney Russell Kirshy said the two boys did not commit a crime, and objected charges filed against them.[7] Charlotte County Judge W. Wayne Woodard released Hendershot from home detention after Kirshy and the prosecutors agreed the boy’s actions would support no more than a misdemeanor battery charge.[7] On June 1, 2005, the felony charges against Hendershot and Dickinson were dropped.[8]
On July 28, 2005, Attorney Mark DeSisto announced that Albert Taylor would not seek prison time or probation and stated that Taylor could return to work with Charlotte County Public Schools if he doesn't have a criminal record and if things "go as planned". DeSisto also instited that the misdemeanor charges against Taylor would be dismissed in 3 months as long as he avoids being arrested, doesn't contact the two boys and doesn't break any agreements made with the school district. Union officials told DeSisto that Taylor would keep a job with the school district, but "might not" remain a bus driver.[9] On July 30, 2005, the Charlotte County school board announced that Taylor would be suspended for 20 days and moved to a new job within the district.[1] In addition, Taylor and Dickinson apologized to each other in a meeting.[1]
Coverage[edit]
The fight was covered by former MSNBC host Contessa Brewer along with numerous CNN anchors and correspondents, such as Miles O’Brein, Carol Costello, and Sara Dorsey.[10][11] According to CNN correspondent Sarah Dorsey, Albert Taylor told Charlotte County police he had to stop the bus after students were causing disruption.[10] Costello stated that “some are saying” that the two boys “shouldn’t be punished, as well as covering the expected appearances o the two boys in court.[12] Dorsey also stated that Taylor told police he had asked the student to come to the front of the bus “three times”.[10] In addition, Kirshy appeared on the network to criticize the felony charges filed against Dickinson and Hendershot “despicable” and “crazy”, as well as criticizing why Taylor is only charged with misdemeanor.[10] However, CNN primary anchor Anderson Cooper questioned Kirshy why Hendershot and Dickinson shouldn't face felony charges, if the two boys accept responsibilities for their actions, and the status on their release from home detention.[13]
Albert Taylor[edit]
Before becoming a bus driver, Albert Taylor originally drove semi-trailer trucks for 30 years in Massachusetts before moving to Florida. In 2001, Taylor applied for the bus driver job, and according to his district personnel file, he had positive references.[7] In a 2003 evaluation, a supervisor who praised Taylor's work ethnic and courtesy, suggested that Taylor should be “a little more aggressive” with student management.[7] Friends of Albert Taylor described him as “kind” and “gentlemen”, and stated that Taylor has been “under stressed” since his house was destroyed by Hurricane Charley.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bus driver suspended for fighting with kids". The Gainesville Sun. July 30, 2005.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Mom fumes over school bus fight charges". NBC. Associated Press. May 23, 2005.
- ↑ "Charges Reconsidered Against Brawling Bus Driver". May 23, 2005.
Hendershot, Corey: “Watch your mouth”
- ↑ Dorsey, Sara (May 23, 2005). "School Bus Driver Battles Riders". CNN. CNN Transcripts.
- ↑ "School Violence 2004 - 2005". columbine-angels.com. 2004–2005. Retrieved September 11, 2020.CS1 maint: Date format (link)
- ↑ Whittle, Patrick. "Two students, bus driver arrested". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Dale, Kevin (May 24, 2005). "Lawyer for boys objects to school bus fight charges". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- ↑ Dale, Kevin (June 1, 2005). "Boys off hook in school bus fight". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- ↑ Kridel, Kristen (July 28, 2005). "Bus driver avoids trial for slapping student". Herald-Tribune.
... Desisto, Mark: 'We believe we would have prevailed at trial ...'
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Dorsey, Sara; O’Brein, Miles (May 23, 2005). "Teens in Court After Hitting Bus Driver; Mideast Protesters Heckle Laura Bush". CNN. CNN Transcripts.
Dorsey, Sarah: Bus driver Albert Taylor told Charlotte County police he had to pull his bus over Tuesday after a few students caused a disruption.
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20131130_230000_Caught_on_Camera
- ↑ Costello, Carol (May 23, 2005). "Teens in Court After Hitting Bus Driver". CNN. CNN Transcripts.
Costello, Carol: “But some are saying they aren't the ones who should be facing such a harsh punishment.”
- ↑ Cooper, Anderson (May 23, 2005). "Anderson Cooper questions Kirshy on Hendershot, Dickinson". CNN. CNN Transcripts.
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