Crime & Safety

West Chicago Man Arrested After Removing 2 From School Bus

The man reported used his vehicle to cut off the bus, causing a minor accident, then removed his son and another youth from the bus and fled.

A West Chicago man faces five charges after an alarming incident Thursday afternoon after a car caused a minor accident with a school bus before the man forced his way onto the bus and then fled with two students.


Jimmy Palmer, 53, of the 3N500 block of Locust, in West Chicago, later was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, criminal trespass to a vehicle, reckless driving, endangering the health or life of a child, failure to give aid or information at an accident — all Class A misdemeanors, and driving too fast for conditions.


According to release issued Friday by DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba, authorities learned of the incident that occurred Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, 2014, about 4 p.m. that day, when a local bus company called to report that a man had forced his way onto the bus and removed two juveniles.

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According to the release, the bus driver was dropping off students on the route when a vehicle cut off the bus driver. That caused the two vehicles to collide in a minor accident in which no students were injured.


According to the release, Palmer then forced his way onto the bus and removed two students, one of whom later was identified as his son. He then fled.

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The release states that Palmer was arrested late Thursday afternoon, but does not include details on how long after the incident or where the arrest occurred. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail where Palmer posted $200 cash bond and was released pending a court appearance.


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