Gravette bus driver cleared

Allegations against Gravette school bus driver were determined to be unfounded

— After a lengthy and thorough investigation by police, Gravette bus driver Debbie McGuire was cleared of allegations that she pushed a 7-year-old student off the bus in February.

According to Gravette Police Chief Trent Morrison, his department conducted a very thorough investigation, including interviews of all the children on the school bus when the incident was alleged to have happened. His department’s findings were submitted to the office of Benton County prosecutor Van Stone for review, and the prosecutor’s office sent the police department a letter indicating no charges would be filed.

“After extensive investigation, including numerous witness interviews, the complaint was determined to be unfounded,” saidMorrison. “Reports were forwarded to the Benton County Prosecuting attorney for review, and they decided not to pursue charges.”

In a March 15 letter addressed to the Gravette Police Department and to the attention of investigating officer Charles Skaggs, deputy prosecuting attorney David Reading wrote: “This letter is to confirm that, after review of this case, no charges will be filed.”

In a February 24 incident report, allegations were made by a parent of the 7-year-old that McGuire pulled the girl’s jacket and pushed her off the school bus.

McGuire has been an employee of the Gravette School district as a bus driver for 28 years and this was the first complaint of this nature ever to be made against her, said Gravette School’s transportation director Richard Carver.

News, Pages 4 on 03/30/2011