Parent: Hazelwood school district will not release video of daughter being attacked on bus

By Sharon Stevens, Education Reporter

KSDK -- Two students have been suspended after a classmate was assaulted on a school bus last Friday in the Hazelwood School District.

A 14-year-old boy was taken into police custody after he allegedly beat up a 15-year-old girl.

School district officials suspended the alleged attacker and a 15-year-old female friend. While both are students in the district, they were on the bus illegally. They did not have bus privileges.

The girl's family says the boy hit and punched her in the face and on the body numerous times. They took photos of her a few hours following the attack.

Crystal Gwaltney says her daughter and other students on the school bus had been terrorized and bullied for months by the boy and his friend. There is a surveillance tape of the incident, but Hazelwood officials will not release it, even to the police, without a subpoena, because of privacy laws.

Recently a tape of a beating on a Belleville school bus made national news. Gwaltney wants everyone to see this video as well. Officials disagree.

Hazelwood Police Captain Gregg Hall says he's frustrated and disappointed in Hazelwood's policy, but the department has applied for a subpoena to see the videotape. Hazelwood officials say they are reviewing and will likely update their school bus policies.