2 women arrested following incident on school bus

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Two women have been arrested following a school bus incident in Sumter County, said deputies.

The two women are accused of allegedly confronting a bus driver and one is accused of taking the keys to the bus with students inside.

Sumter County deputies said the incident happened on Wednesday when 29-year-old Shapoleon Sheqveia Hayward allegedly got on a school bus and confronted the driver.

Even though Hayward was told to get off the bus several times she refused to do so, said the sheriff’s office.

Witnesses told deputies that Hayward manipulated the controls of the bus and removed the keys from the ignition before throwing them in a nearby overgrown vacant lot.

Another woman, 27-year-old Janaya Mitchell, allegedly shouted threats while standing outside the bus.

The sheriff’s office said witnesses overheard both women using their phones to invite other people to the location to fire their guns into the bus.

Deputies responded to the report but the women had left the bus and a K-9 officer later found the keys, the sheriff’s office said.

An investigation and witness statements, led to warrants for both women, who surrendered on Thursday.

Hayward and Mitchell face charges of interfering with the operation of a school bus and aggravated breach of peace.

Both were taken to the Sumter County Detention Center and released on a $10,000 bond.

“This is intolerable. We will do everything within our power to protect our children and school personnel from outrageous behavior like this. It is inexcusable and shameful,” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis, commented.