A Bellefontaine City School bus driver was charged Wednesday with assault after he self-reported an incident in which he slapped a 17-year-old girl who was verbally abusive toward him, would not comply with directions to cover her mouth and nose with a mask and struck him in the face.
Jeff Zell, 65, has been placed on leave pending an outcome of internal district review of the incident which was recorded on a camera inside the bus.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department reviewed the video footage and report the student could be heard yelling at Zell before he confronted her. She was refusing to wear her mask properly and sit completely inside her assigned sitting area.
She stood up, pushed Zell and then pulled his mask and glasses off, scratching the bus driver’s face, officers report. Zell then smacked the girl and forced her into a seat.
She can be seen on the video swinging and striking Zell.
Officers have referred the incident to juvenile prosecutors for consider of charges on the student.
Four charged with marijuana possession
Three adults and juvenile male were charged possession of marijuana after a 12:20 a.m. traffic stop Thursday.
Charged were Nolan Smith, 18, of Urbana; Zayne C. Bishop, 20, of 543 Stone Bridge Boulevard; Miles X. Harte, 18, of 428 Kent Drive, Apt. 14; and Austin J. Rutherford, 16, of 5232 Township Road 127, Zanesfield.
Officers initiated the stop after observing a northbound car without headlights on in the 400 block of south Main Street.
Smith was driving with the other three as passengers.
The passengers all exhibited signs of consuming alcohol. Also a clear plastic bag with marijuana was found on the rear seat.
All four denied ownership of the marijuana.
An open bottle of alcohol beverage was found where Harte was sitting along with an unopened bottle.
All four faced additional charges. Smith was charged with contributing to delinquency of minor as were Bishop and Harte. Bishop and Harte also were charged with underage consumption of alcohol with Harte given an additional summons for having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Austin faces delinquency charges of underage consumption of alcohol and violating curfew.
Warrants served
Officers served warrants to:
• Robert Dickinson, , of 513 W. Columbus Ave.: possession of drugs; and
• Ciera Owens, of Fairborn: failure to appear.