Girl involved in bus brawl says actions were "immature"
Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.27.2008MESA — The high school student caught on videotape scuffling with a school bus driver said she's taking responsibility for her actions.
"I should have sat back down and sucked it up and acted more mature about it," Samantha Taylor,15, a student at Williams Field High School said Tuesday. "I was really immature." A surveillance camera inside the bus captured the Feb. 15 incident.
Taylor said Higley Unified School District administrators have recommended she be expelled for her actions. Gilbert police have recommended prosecutors file aggravated assault charges against her.
Taylor said it wouldn't be fair to face such extreme consequences because she did not touch the driver, 54-year-old Kim Sullivan.
"She knew the video was working," said Paula Bigler, the girl's mother. "And if you watch the video, she backs herself backward in the video and you can't see or hear her."
Taylor said the bus driver started the fight because she stopped the bus and told her she needed to find a different way to school because she was being too loud. Taylor said that's why she wanted to get off the bus. "I'm 5-foot-9 and I'm big, and she was pushing me," Taylor said. "I was kind of resisting, and she was pushing me really hard."
A Gilbert police report released Monday indicates that one of Taylor's earrings was pulled out in the scuffle. "I don't think it's right, the fact that she could be so aggressive and go after my daughter," Bigler said. "I don't agree with that."
Bigler said she wants the bus driver fired, but district officials said Tuesday they would stand by the driver's actions.
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