Posted on 08/26/2008 9:17:04 AM PDT by Between the Lines
CHARLOTTE (MCT) — The host of a Charlotte FM radio station that sent a staff member aboard a Charlotte-Mecklenburg school bus as part of a prank Monday said this morning that the incident was never meant to be malicious.
"We thought it was pretty entertaining," said Brotha' Fred, host of the Morning Mayhem on WIBT (96.1 FM). "We try to entertain in a way that some people will think was funny and some won't."
"But we had no malicious intent."
A staff member from the show, Jase Edward "Cubby" Squires, 26, was charged with causing a disturbance on a school bus. He was freed overnight on $1,000 bond from the Mecklenburg County Jail. Squires got aboard a bus headed to Southwest Middle School about 8:30 a.m. Monday and used his cell phone to be part of a live broadcast while he rode briefly.
Squires got off the bus at the next stop.
Bud Cesena, head of law enforcement for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, said the school system had decided to file charges.
The bus driver who let Squires on the bus has been suspended with pay while the school system investigates, Superintendent Peter Gorman said.
Squires, going by the radio name Cubby, went to a random bus stop about 8 a.m. Monday to see if he could get on. He chatted by cell phone with staff at the radio station while asking parents where the bus was going.
The studio staff joked about whether he'd be allowed on the bus or whether anyone would turn him in.
"Tell me how that police car rides when you're riding in the back," one member of the show's cast told him.
When the bus arrived, a tape of the program captures Cubby asking the female driver whether this was the right bus for Southwest, getting confirmation and then boarding. He got off at the next stop as the studio personalities howled with laughter and speculated on whether he was breaking any laws.
"You're 26 years old and you're on the bus with a bunch of 7-year-olds!" one on-air personality exclaimed.
On this morning's program, Brotha' Fred, Christopher Frederick, said he finds it difficult to believe that Cubby could have gotten on the bus. And he suggested that although the prank angered some people, it also raises security questions for the school system.
"I can't believe that a 26-year-old man — 300 pounds, in jeans — could get on a bus with middle school kids in uniforms," Brotha' Fred said. "That is the real issue."
He and two other hosts of the program said they never expected Cubby to be permitted on the bus. They said they thought the driver would forbid him from boarding.
Still, Brotha' Fred said he realizes the prank bothered some people.
"I realize there are people who are upset," he said. "It was a prank that went one step too far."
He said the decision for the prank was his, and he realizes that the decision could cost him his job.
"We'll have to see where this goes," Brotha' Fred said.
Gorman called the stunt "irresponsible," and he questioned why parents at the stop didn't do more to stop Squires or turn him in. "At some point in time, parents have to bear responsibility."
L
The radio waves are awash in “Howard Stern awannbe’s”
I don’t know about all that. It’s a funny stunt...and now they get to pay for the crime. If boarding school buses illegally is a really big concern, I recommend petitioning your local politicians for stricter penalities.
A “practical joker” deserves applause for his
wit according to its quality.
Bastinado is about right.
For exceptional wit one might grant keelhauling.
But staking him out on an anthill should be
reserved for the very wittiest.
LAZARUS LONG
...and yet you should have heard the stories on the radio this morning of other “loophole” incidents. They (the station)admitted it went too far. A radio listener pointed out that if they had been with a major news organization or a prominent reporter they would be getting kudos for pointing out such a huge gaff.
Most listeners agreed that the media is again spinning.
That bus driver should never have let him on the bus, period.
I bet there were some 7-year olds thinking they were above this stupid prank. How do you get them to grow up respecting adults?
Probably because the people at the stop knew it was a radio stunt. The dude was talking to the station on his cellphone, and there likely were people waiting in their cars for their kids to get on the bus who were listening to the show.
Caning is a good option in some cases. They evidently think the safety of our children is a good joke. Tar and feathers might be more appropriate.
This from a school superintendent? I'll bet this guy would throw a fit if a parent showed up at his school in his district to take charge for of what went on there.
Thank God for satellite radio, I don’t have to listen to this mindless, idiotic chit-chat.
‘That bus driver should never have let him on the bus, period.”
So the bus driver should have fought off the 300 lb man? Put the responsibility where it should be, with the dufus who got on the bus and the dufus who put him up to it.
Gorman called the stunt “irresponsible,” and he questioned why parents at the stop didn’t do more to stop Squires or turn him in. “At some point in time, parents have to bear responsibility.”
Uh...maybe because its no big deal and you are the one over reacting?
Leave him in jail until he weighs 150 pounds.
And rather than do the right thing they opted for one minute of local fame.
I would be interesting in knowing if this was a veteran school bus driver or is he one of the more than 250 hired this year and it was his first day on the job.
That bus should have gone NOWHERE until the strange man, with who knows what intent, was removed from the bus. Once the driver ascertained that the adult wasn't a parent intent on asking a question, the driver, IMO has the right and the responsibility to use ANY FORCE NECESSARY to remove that person from the vehicle.
I don't expect the people in whom I've placed responsibility for my child, to just stand by and allow an adult access to my kid. They may choose not to use physical means, and depending upon the circumstances, that might be reasonable. But to just pick the guy up and continue to drive is outrageous!
The pranksters probably need to be held accountable....
But the bigger issue maybe how did a 26 year old man get on a bus of children? Seems the district has lax regulations or the driver was incompetent.... JMO
The bus driver was a female. I do not know if she was just hired or not. I do know she had a list of all students that were to be on the bus. My guess is that none of the children would have been 300 pounds. Common sense.
Over reacting implies that the reaction was greater than the original action. Being as the action was broadcast live, I think the reaction was about equal to it.
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