Fall River man held without bail after allegedly assaulting school bus driver from Fall River with children present

A Fall River man faced a judge Thursday after allegedly assaulting a school bus driver from Fall River in front of several children during a dispute Tuesday morning.

According to Randolph Police Chief Anthony Marag, on Tuesday, at approximately 8:24 a.m., Randolph Police were dispatched to 1 Avalon Drive for a report that a school bus driver had been assaulted.

Upon arrival, officers observed multiple parents in the parking lot who appeared
visibly shaken and upset. Officers learned that a First Student Transportation school bus driver for Canton Public Schools, a 65-year-old Fall River man, had been assaulted by another parent.

The investigation revealed that 31-year-old Aaron Jamahl Whitehead stopped his vehicle in front of a school bus while it was picking up students in Canton and attempted to have his child board at a location that was not their assigned stop. The driver told the child they could not board at their unscheduled stop under company policy and Whitehead allegedly became angry.

Whitehead later followed the bus to its next stop at Avalon Drive in Randolph. When the bus arrived and opened its doors for students, Whitehead boarded the bus and confronted the driver.

Whitehead allegedly assaulted the driver, striking him multiple times. He then took the driver’s cellphone and threw it before leaving the scene.

Several young children were on the bus at the time of the assault.

The bus driver was treated at the scene by Randolph Fire Department paramedics and transported to a local hospital.

Through an investigation, Randolph Police identified the suspect as Whitehead and obtained a warrant for his arrest in Quincy District Court on Wednesday. He was arrested by Randolph Police on Wednesday evening in Stoughton.

Whitehead was charged with Assault and Battery on a Person Over the Age of 60, Witness Intimidation, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Disorderly Conduct.

At Thursday’s arraignment, Whitehead pleaded not guilty and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for May 5th.