A church bus ride home took an alarming turn in Albany, Georgia, after four children were allegedly left at a busy intersection following a dispute over their behavior. Police say the children, ages 9 to 12, were dropped off miles from home, prompting a worried mother to search for them when they failed to arrive.
Erin Menefee, 42, who reportedly served as a church deacon and was driving the bus, faces four counts of reckless conduct in connection with the incident.
According to the police account, the incident happened Sunday while the children were returning home from church. The group included three siblings, ages 12, 11 and 9, and their 10-year-old friend.
The children were allegedly left near the intersection of Westover Boulevard and Gillionville Road, approximately four miles from their home. The location was reportedly too far for the children to walk safely on their own.
When the children did not return as expected, their mother went looking for them. During her search, she spotted the church bus and spoke with Menefee, who reportedly told her that he had dropped the children off farther down the road. However, she was still unable to locate them and eventually went to the church to speak with the pastor.
The situation became clearer when a relative contacted the mother and relayed Menefee’s explanation. Police say he had claimed that the children were cursing, hitting one another and disrupting the ride. He reportedly told the relative that he had removed them from the bus because he would not tolerate that behavior.
Fortunately, a passerby spotted the four children and drove them home. That intervention brought the search to an end without the children having to make the long journey on foot.
Driver Says He Was Concerned About Safety
During his conversation with investigators, Menefee reportedly acknowledged leaving the children at the intersection. He said there were approximately 20 children aboard the bus and that the four were causing a disturbance.
Menefee allegedly explained that he removed them because of concerns about safety on the bus. He also told police that he had contacted a relative to collect the children but acknowledged that he should have stayed at the location until the relative arrived.
The case highlights the difficult decisions that can arise when children misbehave during group transportation. However, leaving young children unattended at a busy intersection, particularly several miles from home, can expose them to traffic and other potential dangers.
A safer response would generally involve keeping the children supervised while contacting their parents or another authorized adult and arranging a secure handover. If a situation aboard a vehicle becomes dangerous, the priority is to bring it under control without leaving children vulnerable.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Police arrested Menefee and booked him into the Dougherty County Jail. He has since posted bond, according to the available report.
His next court date had not been publicly listed at the time of the report. The charges remain allegations, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
For the children’s family, the incident began with an unexpected delay and quickly turned into a frightening search. Although a passerby ultimately helped bring the children home, the circumstances surrounding their removal from the bus are now at the center of the criminal case.
