Video shows child’s arm being closed in Horry school bus door. Mom says race played a role
Stephanie Floyd said that her 7-year-old daughter is dealing with nerve pain, physical therapy and anxiety after her arm was shut in a school bus door last year.
The bus driver was arrested in the incident, but the charge was later dropped.
Floyd believes race played a factor. Her daughter is Black and the bus driver is white.
On Wednesday, the driver, Thomas Interlandi, told The Sun News, “That’s a lie, (the case) has been dismissed. I’ve been through living hell because the mother lied. There was no probable cause at the hearing. I was dismissed, everything has been expunged.”
In August, the young girl was getting off her school bus in Conway when she saw a dog outside and stayed on the bus, The Sun News reported. The driver, Thomas Interlandi, closed the door on her arm and began to drive away, according to a police report.
He then backed up for Floyd’s daughter’s bus stop and let her off. Interlandi was charged with unlawful conduct against a child and arrested in the incident.
His employment with Horry County Schools ended on Aug. 29, according to the district.
Floyd said in the video from the school bus, Interlandi can be heard saying, “You shouldn’t have put your hand out,” when her daughter said her arm was caught. He also said, “Serves you right,” after her daughter got off the bus, Floyd said. Floyd obtained the video through a Freedom of Information Act request.
His charge was dropped because the judge found there to be no probable cause in the case.
Floyd believes the charge was dropped because the driver is white and her daughter is Black.
Floyd said since the incident, her daughter has been dealing with sleep problems, anxiety and PTSD. Floyd now drives her daughter to school instead of sending her on the bus.
“I’ve been taking her to school,” she said. “If I have to make her ride the bus, it’s a whole meltdown.”
The child also has been going to physical therapy to help with nerve pain, Floyd said.
Floyd has teamed up with John Barnett from True Healing Under God, a national civil rights organization. They both appeared at a press conference Wednesday and are demanding that the dropped charge be brought back and new ones be added.
This story was originally published February 28, 2024 at 4:27 PM.
