Former school bus aide charged in verbal, physical abuse of students with special needs, Nassau police say
Nassau police charged Devone Medlock, 37, in the abuse of special needs students on a bus in January. Credit: Jonathan Singh
An Amityville man has been arrested for allegedly physically abusing special needs students — including by sitting on them — while he was working on a school bus in January, Nassau County police said.
Devone Medlock, 37, was working as an aide on a bus taking special needs children to the Grand Avenue School in Baldwin, an elementary school, police said in a Saturday news release. He was employed by First Student Inc.
Medlock "became physically and verbally abusive with multiple children" riding the bus on Jan. 13, including by "pushing, slamming, restraining and sitting on students," Nassau police said in the release.
He was arrested at his home on Bayview Avenue in Amityville and charged with six counts each of endangering the welfare of a child, menacing and assault. He faces 18 charges in total.
Newsday was unable to immediately reach Nassau police for additional details, including whether any of the children had to be treated for injuries, what preceded the alleged abuse and why he was not arrested for more than two months.
In an emailed statement to Newsday, First Student spokeswoman Emily Buckley wrote, "We take our responsibility to provide a safe environment for students on our school buses very seriously. The behavior captured in the video is unacceptable and is not tolerated. The driver is no longer employed by First Student."
The Uniondale Union Free School District, of which the Grand Avenue School is a part, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Medlock pleaded not guilty to all charges in First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday. He was released without bail.
Newsday was unable to reach Medlock's attorney on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Kmack covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and previously worked as a city watchdog reporter in the Phoenix metro area, as well as an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
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