Shocking video shows the moment a father punched a staff member at his son’s school aboard a school bus, police say.
The disturbing clip was filmed by one of several high school students who witnessed the alleged altercation, which Florida police say came after 50-year-old Esdra Burges-Cruz became enraged over his son being temporarily banned from the bus.
Footage from the May 2 altercation is now being used in a case against Ocala’s father, who was arrested the next day after the student who filmed the clip turned it over to a campus deputy.
Marion County police say Burges-Cruz is threatening the unnamed victim, who hours before wrote school orders to ban the man’s son — and another unnamed student — from riding the bus because of unspecified behavioral issues .
After deputies viewed the video, Burges-Cruz was located at his home in Ocala, a few miles from Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, and arrested on probable battery charges.
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Shocking video shows the moment a father punched a staff member at his son’s school aboard a school bus, police say
The disturbing clip was filmed by one of several high school students who witnessed the alleged altercation, which Florida police say came after 50-year-old Esdra Burges-Cruz became enraged at his son being banned from the bus. He was arrested and has $17,500 bail
‘This will be the last time! [The] last time!’ the enraged father can be heard repeating in the clip, before appearing to punch the unknown assistant in the chest.
However, the father told WESH 2 that he did not hit the employee, but simply snatched a piece of paper from him stating that his son had his bus privileges suspended. It’s not immediately clear why.
Shortly before, according to an accompanying police report, Burges-Cruz threatened school staff, telling him “that if anything else were to happen to his son, the victim would “see what’s going to happen.”
Burges-Cruz declined a meeting with the Daytona Beach store after being released on bail a day after his arrest, which itself came a day after the incident was reported by the victim — hours after it happened.
The deputy sheriff questioned the bus driver who corroborated the victim’s statement, although he did not witness the alleged strike.
Later in the day, deputies visited the father’s home, where he “denyed touching the victim.”
On May 3, a student delivered the cell phone video to the officer on campus — and the arrest took place.
While not clear from the footage, officers wrote that Burges-Cruz immediately confronted the school assistant as he walked on the bus
Footage from the May 2 altercation is now being used in a case against Ocala’s father, who was arrested the next day after the student who filmed the clip turned it over to a campus deputy
After deputies viewed the video, Burges-Cruz was tracked down to his home in Ocala, a few miles from Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, and arrested on probable battery charges
Marion County police say Burges-Cruz is threatening the unnamed victim, who hours before wrote school orders to ban the man’s son — and another unnamed student — from riding the bus because of unspecified behavioral issues
The suspect’s son attends Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, although the incident occurred at a bus stop in nearby Ocala
‘Close the [f**k] upwards!’ the father reportedly told the staffer as he got in, appearing increasingly confrontational.
Police said his son and the other student were on the bus earlier that day, resulting in their suspension.
They claim the man became upset after learning of his son’s suspension – and say the video that prompted his arrest serves as evidence.
Now out at $17.5000, Burges-Cruz faces felonies of battery on a public or private education worker, burglary and disruptive peace.
Police noted in their report that the video showed Burges-Cruz “taking an aggressive stance” toward the victim, “within a foot” of his person, aggressively pointing his finger and grabbing hold of the cord around his neck.
The bus stop where the altercation took place was in Ocala, where the father and son live.
A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.