Arizona Mom Allegedly Assaults School Bus Driver, Causing Pacemaker to Shock Her
A 27-year-old woman was arrested for assaulting a 64-year-old bus driver a week after the attack
A 27-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday, April 17, after allegedly attacking a school bus driver, per a Mesa Police Department news release obtained by PEOPLE.
Hermenegilda Marquez allegedly attacked the 64-year-old bus driver, who was dropping children off in the area of McKellips Road and Country Club Drive in Mesa, Ariz., around 2:15 p.m. last Thursday, April 11.
Marquez was arrested six days later on April 17. She was taken into custody and charged with one count of aggravated assault on a school employee. “Marquez invoked her right to legal counsel and declined to be interviewed by investigators,” per the MPD news release.
Authorities responded to reports that there was a “possible assault on a Mesa Public Schools bus driver,” per the MPD news release. Upon arrival, the police discovered the unnamed driver, who had sustained minor injuries.
Although the attack occurred after the victim dropped off students at the bus stop, 11 children witnessed the assault.
Marquez allegedly boarded the bus and proceeded to threaten the driver, claiming she was "talking s--- to [her] daughter." Marquez then walked off the bus for a short period of time and then reboarded, where she pushed, slapped, and punched the victim, per footage obtained by PEOPLE.
The victim claimed she did not know either the mother or the child. She then claimed "that she was struck in the head and her hair was pulled" and "after the assault, her pacemaker began to shock her."
Related: Pa. Teacher Allegedly Attacked by Brick-Wielding Parent After Confiscating Student's Phone
Marquez’s boyfriend then went on the bus and attempted to remove his girlfriend. But as Marquez was taken off the vehicle, she reached and pulled the victim’s hair, almost pulling the victim out of the driver’s seat.
The driver then called for help via the bus radio. Police arrived after Marquez fled the scene in a vehicle.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The Mesa Police Department is still investigating the incident.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.