Alleged bus assault prompts investigation

The Red River County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the alleged assault of a local student on a school bus and should have a report early next week, according to officials there.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove Independent School District is conducting an internal investigation, interviewing staff and students who were on the bus.

Red River County Chief Deputy Quintin Wallace said the case has been assigned an investigator.

"We'll get into it Monday or Tuesday or so," he said. "At that point, they might be ready to release a statement."

A school bus was transporting the Pleasant Grove ISD's middle school boys' basketball team from a game in Paris on Nov. 30. The assault report was initially filed on Dec. 1 with Texarkana, Texas, Police Department. It was turned over to the Red River County as it reportedly happened in that jurisdiction.

Wallace said he could not comment on the nature of the alleged assault.

"I have heard bits and bits and pieces," he said. "That part I really don't know. I'm not fully knowledgeable of the case." The report is not immediately available since the investigation involves a juvenile, Wallace stated.

PGISD Superintendent Dr. Jason Smith said they have been conducting an internal investigation and with the help of their school resource officer, Latriesha Grandy, who is a member of TTPD.

"We have pulled in several students that were on the bus and received statements from them. We also called in staff members on the bus, received statements from them," Smith said. "Over this past week, Officer Grandy has been working with TTPD and now recently with Red River."

Smith said he could not comment on whether the students involved in the alleged incident have already faced consequences, as it is a discipline matter.

"We are looking forward to hearing more information," he said of RRCSO's investigation. "We do understand that the information that we receive from their investigation will have an impact on our decisions as well, as we move forward with looking at appropriate consequences."

Smith said he has not been given a definitive timeline for completion of the investigation and also offered his personal philosophy, which he said he has shared with PG staff and parents.

"My philosophy is if and when students put other students or themselves in harm's way they are stating they don't want to be at PG and I'm willing to oblige them of that," he said. "That is a personal opinion and feeling, but that is the way I feel."

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