SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (WTVF) — Sheriff's deputies arrested a former Robertson County school bus driver after they say she stole her old bus and tried to run her old route.
The Robertson County Sheriff's Office says Sherry James took a school bus from East Robertson High School, and attempted to pick up students. According to the school, she was detained about half a mile from the school.
No students were harmed.
James faces charges of Aggravated Criminal Trespassing, Unauthorized use of an Automobile and Use of Electronic Device by School Bus Driver. She is currently being held at the Robertson County Detention Facility.
According to Smokey Barn News, James is the same bus driver who was suspended in October after video showed her holding a cell phone while behind the wheel. Students were reportedly on the bus when the video was taken.
In the video, you can see the driver holding a cell phone while the bus is moving. It is illegal to hold your phone in your hand while driving in Tennessee.
One mother says James pulled up to her house and her 7-year-old hopped on the bus. Glena Creek says when the bus pulled up there was a deputy attempting to pull the driver over.
"I actually went over there and tapped on the door because at that point it was my daughter and the five other kids across the street that were on the bus because all got on at that point," said Creek.
Creek says she pulled her daughter off the bus and was shocked to later learn that the driver no longer worked for the district.
"It made me really mad at first when it all started going on and seeing stuff going across my timeline. What’s going on in her head, something done come loose because why would she steal a bus, take the kids, where was she going with the kids," said Creek.
Creek says her daughter will no longer ride the bus to and from school.
Robertson County Schools released the following statement:
"On Friday morning, November 22, a former Robertson County bus driver gained unauthorized access to a district school bus. After attempting to begin a bus route, the driver was stopped by a Robertson County Sheriff’s Office School’s Resource Officer.
Prior to being apprehended, the driver travelled approximately one-half-mile with the empty bus. Upon reaching the first stop, the bus was boarded by the SRO, who immediately detained the driver before the bus could move with any students on board.
The originally assigned driver arrived on the scene and continued the route without incident."
Read more: Robertson County Schools bus driver caught on camera with phone behind the wheel
