
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180846
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

SCHOOL BUS OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF HITTING PUPIL

The Manassas school transportation chief has been suspended following her arrest on charges of assault and battery for allegedly striking a child on a bus, according to a published report.

Pauline Griffin, 60, head of the transportation department since 1980, was not available for comment. But when questioned by police, she denied hitting the child.

The Manassas Journal Messenger on Thursday obtained the police report on Griffin's arrest, which stemmed from a May 4 incident.

According to the report, the bus driver radioed Griffin for help when some of the pupils became rowdy. Griffin brought with her an umbrella and shook it at children, several of whom began crying. A 9-year-old girl who was not identified said Griffin told her several times to quit crying and at one point struck her with the umbrella, the report said.

The girl was uninjured except for swelling on the left side of her face. - Associated Press

by CNB