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| Jimmy Edwards and Pamela Bethea |
A bus driver was arrested on a charge of child abuse after being accused of beating a child with a hammer, according to police in Florida.
Pensacola police said that they have arrested 55-year-old Jimmy Edwards, who worked as a bus driver for the Camelot Academy of Escambia, after hitting the child with a hammer while driving the bus on Highway 98.
Edwards has been charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail, and his bail has been set at $52,500.
The bus monitor, 54-year-old Pamela Bethea, has been charged with child neglect for remaining silent during the attack and failing to report the abuse.
According to the criminal complaint, while Edwards was driving on Highway 98, the victim called him an “old man.” In response, Edwards became extremely angry and grabbed a hammer.
He then beat the child with the hammer and threw the student off the bus on the highway. The entire incident was recorded on the bus’ surveillance camera.
School Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said that Edwards was suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.
