Inset: Erin Menefee, pictured at the Dougherty County Jail (source: WALB). The incident took place near Oakridge Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia (Google Maps).
A deacon who was driving a church bus in Georgia allegedly abandoned four children on the side of the road and drove away after they misbehaved, leaving a frightened mother unable to locate them.
Erin Menefee, 42, now faces four counts of reckless conduct.
An Albany police incident report obtained by local NBC affiliate WALB shows that officers responded to Oakridge Baptist Church on Sunday to speak with a woman who claimed her three children,aged 12, 11 and 9,and their 10‑year‑old friend were kicked off the church bus on the way home.
She said the children were left at the busy intersection of Westover Boulevard and Gillionville Road, nearly four miles from their house and far too far to walk. When the kids didn’t appear at home, the mother searched for them, saw the bus, but couldn’t find the children.
The mother confronted Menefee, who told her he had dropped the kids off a short distance away, according to the complaint. Still unable to locate them, she drove to the church to speak with the pastor.
While she was there, a relative called to tell her that Menefee had said he removed the kids from the bus because they were cursing and hitting each other and that he “don’t play that,” police reported.
A passerby later spotted the children and gave them a ride home.
Officers questioned Menefee, who admitted leaving the children at the intersection. He explained that there were 20 kids on the bus and the four in question were disruptive, so he removed them for safety, the complaint states.
Menefee also said he called a relative to pick up the children but acknowledged he should have waited for the relative before driving away.
Police arrested him and booked him at the Dougherty County Jail, where he posted bond. His next court date has not yet been announced.
Leave a Reply