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Autistic teen loses control, sets off melee on IPS bus

Father and 2 sons are arrested after regular 4-block ride turns into an

ordeal on Eastside.

By Tom Spalding and Kim L. Hooper

Indianapolis Star

September 05, 2001

The routine of an autistic child can tumble out of control when a

conflict, no matter how small, arises.

That's what happened to 15-year-old Bobby Phelps on his way to Howe

Middle School on Tuesday. A minor crisis at home -- he couldn't find his

favorite pair of shoes -- snowballed into a tense ordeal on an IPS bus

that led to three arrests.

No one was seriously injured after the youth attempted to wrestle control

of the moving bus less than a block from his Eastside home. But the

conflict is the type of drama that can occur with autistic children,

whose behavior is often volatile.

Autism, which affects about one in 300 children in Indiana, is a

neurological condition that causes children to be unresponsive and

repulsed by physical contact with others.

The incident in the Indianapolis Public Schools district highlights the

need for ongoing training for educators, parents and police, said Cathy

Pratt, director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, an advocacy

group at Indiana University in Bloomington.

" Sometimes when these kids act out, it can be disastrous, " Pratt said.

School incidents involving special-needs children easily can escalate out

of control. In St. Louis this year, a 16-year-old student suffering from

a rare genetic disorder died after being restrained by teachers.

The girl often acted out and became upset in school when a teacher said

she couldn't bring a soda to a Valentine's Day party. She stopped

breathing after several teachers held her down.

Tuesday's incident on the IPS bus was taped by cameras being installed on

district buses for safety reasons. But IPS officials Tuesday refused to

release the tape. It was referred to attorneys for review.

Phelps, Bobby's mother, said the arrests -- which included her

45-year-old husband, who is mildly retarded, and 13-year-old son -- were

an overreaction. Phelps said she cautioned IPS bus driver D.

that Bobby was unable to locate his favorite pair of shoes and already

was upset before boarding the bus.

" I said if he starts acting up, to stop the bus and let him out, and that

I would explain to him why he needs to go to school and get on the bus, "

Phelps said. She had told her son she would look for the shoes and

bring them to school later.

School officials could not confirm that conversation. could not be

reached for comment.

But when Indianapolis police arrived on the scene, a chemical spray was

used to subdue the older teen and his father, who has permission to

accompany him on the bus. Fifteen students were on the bus. Eight,

ranging in age from 6 to 8, were taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital to be

checked.

Late Tuesday, neither police nor school officials felt the measures taken

were too severe. But internal reviews are under way.

Police responding to the scene apparently did not know the 15-year-old is

autistic, said Indianapolis Police Department Lt. Dale Tippitt. " The

officer was trying to protect the driver, " he said.

Bobby, an eighth-grader, had been attending IPS since the end of the

spring semester. The district's special education director said there had

been no prior behavior problems.

The incident on the bus happened only a few minutes after Bobby and his

father had been picked up near the 400 block of South Emerson Avenue. The

trip to school was less than four blocks.

According to police reports, as the bus began to move, Bobby became

adamant about getting off. He reportedly struck on the arm several

times with his fists and then grabbed the shift lever, throwing the bus

in reverse.

called for help, screaming that a student had grabbed the steering

wheel and was striking her.

IPD Officer C. Longworth said she saw the teen-ager lying on the

bus stairs screaming. She tried to restrain him with handcuffs, but he

pulled away. She then used chemical repellent twice, saying it had no

effect.

During the altercation, the father and brother -- who was preparing to

walk to school when he saw the bus come to a stop -- also got involved.

The father also was sprayed with the chemical.

The three family members -- father W. Phelps and sons Bobby and

-- face nine preliminary criminal charges ranging from criminal

recklessness to disorderly conduct. The father and older son were held

overnight.

School officials will meet with the family today. But Bobby, by federal

law, is guaranteed access to public schools -- and the opportunity for an

education.

Phelps said the family has done the best it can on a limited

income since Bobby was released from a residential treatment facility

where he lived for six years.

Lina Ealy, a behavior specialist assigned to the family, said she hopes

this is not a setback.

" They shouldn't let this affect his ability to get an education, " Ealy

said.