State asked to investigate after Centreville school bus fight leads to mother’s violent, videoed arrest

State asked to investigate after Centreville school bus fight leads to mother’s violent, videoed arrest

A fight on an Alabama school bus led to a mother behind bars, and multiple videos making their rounds on social media showing a physical altercation between that mother and a police officer.

The ordeal began with an argument between a couple of Centreville Middle School students riding the bus home from school Thursday afternoon.

Centreville Mayor Mike Oakley said the bus driver called police and the situation was “under control” until the mother showed up to check on her 11-year-old son and “jumped on the policeman.”

The videos show the woman – identified in court records as 42-year-old Latrivia Lashae Crews – in a struggle with Centreville Police Officer Michael Shirley. She grabs him around the neck and hits him a couple of times.

Officer Shirley, who is also holding Crews, throws at least two punches of his own and takes Crews to the ground.

Crews’ son is seen in handcuffs, first sitting on the ground, and then being taken to a police SUV.

Crews is charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, first degree criminal mischief, second-degree hindering prosecution, and two counts of disorderly conduct.

According to charging documents on the assault charge, Crews used her hands to punch and choke the officer.

Records do not list an attorney for Crews.

The criminal mischief charge states Crews damaged the officer’s Costa sunglasses and dented his 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe.

As for the disorderly conduct charges, police content Crews engaged in fighting and disobeyed the officer who told her to quit cussing and yelling in public.

Court records show Crews was arrested in November 2022 on an unrelated second-degree assault charges, and prosecutors on Friday filed a motion asking that her bond in that case be revoked following her arrest on Thursday.

Oakley said the State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to take over to do a fair and impartial investigation. He said they notified the family of that decision on Thursday night, and said the family was good with that decision.

Shirley has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

The mayor said he supports the officer but said it’s best to have an outside agency conduct the probe.

“We’re here to protect our citizens and that’s what we’re going to do,’’ Oakley said.

A protest in support of Crews was held outside the Bibb County Jail on Friday.