Police seek man who boarded school bus, inappropriately touched student

COATESVILLE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Police with the Coatesville Area School District say a man boarded a school bus on Thursday morning and inappropriately touched a student.

According to the school district, the man boarded the bus stop at North 6th and Chestnut streets.

"The man sat down next to one of our students and put his hand under her leg. He was on the bus for about five minutes, came to the front of the bus when it stopped at a stop sign, and told the driver he wanted to get off," the district said in a statement.

Officials released surveillance images of a person of interest.

Coatsville residents like Ronald Jennings are wondering how this man was able to gain entry onto the bus.

"At the end of the day, we've got to look out for our kids," said Jennings.

According to the district, the driver initially believed the man was a student. But when he asked to get off before arriving at the school campus, the driver became alarmed and immediately contacted police.

Jennings says he's trying to sympathize with that explanation.

"Just recently went to a football game and some of these kids look older than they are. But I think we should have a better understanding of who and what we're allowing on our buses," said Jennings.

While the search continues for the suspect, he hopes this will bring about some kind of change so this never happens again.

"This is a case where like maybe things will open up and different things can be put in place. These are our children and this is our community and our home and we start from the bottom. We have to protect our families," said Jennings.

School district officials say the safety of their students is their number one priority and they are hopeful this investigation won't take long.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Coatesville Area School District Police Department at 484-784-9118.