A Mom Is Facing Felonies After Fighting Son’s Bully On A Schoolbus
An Indianapolis woman is now facing charges after inciting a physical altercation on a school bus.
Latea Hentz, 36, is being charged with criminal confinement, battery, intimidation, and criminal trespass for the fight she started on March 6, as reported by WISHTV.com.
The incident gained local and national attention after a student's mom posted a video on social media. In the video, it appears Hentz got on the bus to confront another student who she claimed was harassing her son. Immediately after a verbal exchange, a physical altercation followed.
Although the video captured the incident, it still leaves room for questions, namely whether Haetz is identifiable. In the audio, someone shouts, "Beat his a—–."
Indiana Prosecutor Ryan Mears said, "Got on that bus, a place where they were not supposed to be, and physically attacked another child."
It is reported that Hentz's actions were premeditated. At the start of the school day, around 9 a.m., the school bus opened its doors for a stop at the corner of East 35th Street and Richardt Avenue in Marion County to allow students on. Court documents say that Hentz boarded the bus to face the student that she accused of bullying her child.
Court documents also show that Hentz's 17-year-old daughter boarded the bus, seemingly for support in the fight.
Hentz reportedly delivered blows to the student, leaving the minor with a broken nose and an injured eye.
Mears said it all stemmed from something on the bus a day earlier.
In a twist, the battered student claims Hentz's son had been the one making racist comments toward him, leading to an incident between the two students. The authorities are taking the altercation seriously because an adult is allegedly involved.
"We understand that kids are going to have disagreements and disputes, but that's why we have adults to try to work through those issues and work through those problems," Mears said in a statement to WISH-TV. "That's why you have teachers, that's why you have principals, to try to help those kids kind of figure out life and work through some of the challenges that they face, and resorting to violence is not going to solve those problems and oftentimes it makes things 20 times worse."
He told the outlet they plan to pursue more charges for others involved in the fight.
Mears added: "On the morning of March 6, an incident occurred on one of our middle school buses when two unauthorized family members, one adult, and one juvenile, boarded the bus and physically engaged with an 8th-grade student. These two individuals also made threatening remarks toward other students on the bus."
"Warren Police and district personnel were immediately contacted and, upon arrival, began their investigation. Both police and DCS (Department of Child Services) reports have been filed, and all video evidence has been provided to the adult and juvenile prosecutors.”
"We are taking all necessary steps to address the situation and support our students who witnessed this incident. The safety and security of our students remains our top priority every day, and incidents like what occurred today will not be tolerated in the MSD (Metropolitan School District) of Warren Township."