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Arrests Made After Another County Bus Attack

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Arrests Made After Another County Bus Attack

By Katie DeLong

MILWAUKEE - Arrests were made after a group of kids beat up a student on a Milwaukee County bus. Sheriff David Clarke called the group that attacked the student a "boorish mob." The beating was caught on tape. The student that was attacked was injured, but recovered. The students all go to school at St. Charles alternative school. They got on a Milwaukee County bus after school and that's where the vicious beating happened. In the video, you can see the 15-year-old victim in the lower left hand corner. He's standing alone. Next, you can see a group of boys approach, and then start violently beating him. The boy tries to protect himself, but is outnumbered, and one of the suspects takes a turn kicking and punching him. Once they finish attacking him, they laugh, and get off the bus. "These gang style beatings are serious,” Sheriff Clarke said. The victim told police one of the suspects started a fight with him at school and continued the attack on the bus. Four of the five suspects, ages 15 and 16, were arrested. No one has been charged. Clarke says all have prior criminal records including drug, weapons and sexual assault charges. "St. Charles students have been a problem since the beginning of the school year. They are a menace,” Sheriff Clarke said. This second bus beating in a month has many passengers wishing for more security. "It would be best if they could try to get police officers to ride the buses every now and then to try to control it," Christopher Dixon said. Daily rider Myra Jackson says she doesn't feel safe. "When the school kids get on the bus, it's just crazy. They're beating up people on the bus, not just the bus drivers, cussing loud. It's not safe at all," Jackson said. Clarke says citizens, like the frightened woman you can see on the tape, shouldn't have to be afraid to ride the bus. That's why he'll recommend revoking the discounted fares St. Charles students currently receive. The beating happened back on May 29, but Clarke says his department wasn't told about it soon enough. Clarke is now demanding changes in the way bus security handles incidents like this one.