A 27-year-old woman has been arrested in Mesa, Arizona, after allegedly attacking a school bus driver. Hermenegilda Marquez was taken into custody on April 17, six days after the incident. The arrest came following an investigation by the Mesa Police Department. Marquez has been charged with one count of aggravated assault on a school employee.
According to authorities, the attack took place on April 11 when the 64-year-old bus driver was dropping off children in the area of McKellips Road and Country Club Drive. Although the children had already been dropped off, 11 of them witnessed the assault. The driver sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Footage obtained by police reportedly showed Marquez boarding the bus and threatening the driver, accusing her of speaking negatively about her daughter. Marquez then briefly left the bus and returned, where she proceeded to physically assault the victim by pushing, slapping, and punching her. The victim claimed to have no prior knowledge of Marquez or her child. After the assault, the driver’s pacemaker began to shock her.
During the altercation, Marquez’s boyfriend entered the bus in an attempt to remove her. However, as Marquez was being taken off the vehicle, she grabbed the driver’s hair, nearly pulling her out of the driver’s seat. The driver called for help via the bus radio, and police arrived at the scene after Marquez fled in a vehicle.
The Mesa Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Marquez invoked her right to legal counsel and declined to be interviewed by investigators.
There are currently no further updates on this case.