A shocking video shows the moment a father hit a worker at his son’s school on a school bus, police said.
The disturbing clip was filmed by one of several middle school students who witnessed the alleged altercation, which Florida police say took place after 50-year-old Esdra Burges-Cruz became angry over his son being temporarily banned from the bus .
Footage of the May 2 altercation is now being used in a lawsuit against the Ocala father, who was arrested the next day after the student who filmed the clip handed it to a deputy on campus.
Marion County police officers say it shows Burges-Cruz threatening the unnamed victim, who hours earlier wrote school recommendations barring the man’s son – and another unnamed student – because of unspecified behavioral issues, to go by bus.
After officers reviewed the video, Burges-Cruz was tracked down to his home in Ocala, a few miles from Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, and arrested on the probable cause of assault.
Scroll down for the video:
A shocking video shows the moment a father hit a worker at his son’s school on a school bus, police said
The disturbing clip was filmed by one of several middle school students who witnessed the alleged altercation, which Florida police say took place after 50-year-old Esdra Burges-Cruz became angry over his son being banned from said bus . He was arrested and is out on $17,500 bail
“This will be the last time!” [The] last time!’ In the clip, the angry father is heard replaying before seemingly punching the unidentified aide in the chest.
However, the father told WESH 2 that he did not hit the employee, but simply snatched a piece of paper from him stating that his son’s bus privileges had been revoked. It’s not immediately clear why.
According to an accompanying police report, Burges-Cruz had just bombarded the school worker with threats, telling him “that the victim “would see what would happen if anything else happened to his son.”
Burges-Cruz refused to meet with the Daytona Beach branch after being released on bail a day after his arrest, which in turn came a day after the victim reported the incident – hours after it happened.
The deputy interviewed the bus driver, who corroborated the victim’s testimony even though he had not witnessed the alleged strike.
Later in the day, officers visited the father’s home and he “denied touching the victim.”
On May 3, a student handed the cellphone video to officers on campus — and the arrest ensued.
Although the footage is not clear, officials wrote that Burges-Cruz immediately confronted the school assistant as he boarded the bus
Footage of the May 2 altercation is now being used in a lawsuit against the Ocala father, who was arrested the next day after the student who filmed the clip handed it to a deputy on campus
After officers reviewed the video, Burges-Cruz was tracked down to his home in Ocala, a few miles from Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, and arrested on the probable cause of assault
Marion County police officers say it shows Burges-Cruz threatening the unnamed victim, who hours earlier wrote school recommendations barring the man’s son – and another unnamed student – because of unspecified behavioral issues, to go by bus
The suspect’s son attends Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, although the incident happened at a bus stop in nearby Ocala
“Keep your mouth shut [f**k] high!’ the father reportedly said to the employee as he boarded and seemed increasingly confrontational.
Police said his son and the other student got on the bus earlier in the day, which led to their suspension.
They claim the man was upset when he found out about his son’s suspension – and say the video that led to his arrest serves as evidence.
Burges-Cruz, who has now lost $17,5000, is charged with assault against an employee of a public or private educational institution, burglary and disturbing the peace.
Police noted in their report that the video showed Burges-Cruz taking “an aggressive stance” toward the victim, “just a foot” from his person while aggressively pointing his finger and the leash around his neck packed.
The bus stop where the altercation broke out was in Ocala, where the father and son live.
A court date has not yet been set.