Dallas Parent, School Bus Driver Charged After Dispute At Bus Stop

DALLAS, GA — A parent and a suspended substitute bus driver involved in a dispute earlier in the month are both facing charges following the incident, Dallas Police told Patch Wednesday.

Police identified the driver as Crystal Johnson and the parent as Tamara Aborn. Both are charged on suspicion of simple battery, police said.

Officials with the Paulding County School District told Patch Johnson is on administrative leave during an internal investigation.

The substitute driver was covering a shift for an Allgood Elementary School bus driver who was sick at the time of the incident on Jan. 18, according to school officials.

The driver was trying to help younger students exit the bus at the Old Harris Road/Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway intersection, where a backup occurred. School officials said several students usually get off at this specific bus stop.

"A backup resulted, and the situation soon escalated as parents waited at the stop for their students," school officials said in a news release at the time.

11Alive showed video footage of the incident that circulated on social media. The footage shows a physical altercation between the driver and a parent. It is unclear from the video what started the altercation.

The case has been turned over the Paulding County Solicitor's Office.