After being asked twice to leave a Jackson-Madison County school bus, a Liberty High School student was physically removed by the school’s Student Resource Officer at 2:45 p.m., Monday.

“Three students were asked to leave the bus, who were not supposed to be on the bus because of an incident the week before,” said Ray Washington, superintendent of Jackson-Madison County Schools, “Two students complied, and one student did not comply.”

Washington made his comments during a press conference with John Mehr, Sheriff of Madison County at the Sheriff’s Department, Tuesday.

Washington said the student, a female was asked to leave the bus by the driver and the school’s assistant principal, before the Student Resource Officer – a member of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department – removed her only after the student became unruly.

Washington said the student was physically removed from the bus after the use of chemical spray.

“The student was put on the ground by the Deputy on duty, and put into a car and taken away from the school area,” Washington said, “It was over in about 20- to 25 minutes.”

Washington said he has spoken with the mother of the student who was physically removed from the bus.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty,” Washington said, “I felt I needed to reach out to the mom about the situation. She was going to be upset. Right or wrong, I needed to speak to her. I didn’t call passing judgement.”

Mehr said actions taken by the deputy were appropriate.

“From reviewing everything … the officer did take the student to the ground,” Mehr said, “They did try to handcuff her. We have videos from (bystanders) and received calls through the night supporting our actions.

“It’s unfortunate, but the officers did what they had to do.”

The student is scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court.

(PHOTO: Ray Washington, superintendent, Jackson-Madison County Schools, left, and John Mehr, Sheriff of Madison County)

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