Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Court dates have been set for a Jonesboro man accused of threatening a school bus driver with a weapon in September.
According to a scheduling order filed Monday, a motion and plea day for 30-year-old Africa Elijah Anderson has been scheduled for Nov. 9. A jury trial is scheduled to take place from Nov. 16-20.
The filing follows a Sept. 15 disturbance that occurred at Brazos Street and Kingsbury Street.
| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now
According to a probable cause affidavit, Anderson aggressively approached a school bus looking for an individual who cursed at his children. When the bus driver stopped him from entering, Anderson allegedly became “excited” and threatened to “bust a cap” before returning to the bus holding an unidentified object. Bus security footage also captured him yelling that he was going to come out with a gun.
In a Mirandized interview, Anderson admitted to the threats, explaining that he was angry and trying to protect his kids.
On Sept. 16, Judge Barbara Halsey found probable cause to charge Anderson with first-degree terroristic threatening, a Class D felony, and criminal trespassing, a Class C misdemeanor. His bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety.
Following the dispute, the Jonesboro Public Schools transportation department implemented new safety protocols, requiring any parents needing to speak with a bus driver to do so through the driver’s window rather than at the bus door.
JPS Assistant Superintendent Dr. William Cheatham later clarified with JRN that while the dispute was not the primary cause of the rule change, the incident highlighted the district’s need to re-educate and re-communicate proper safety protocols for these types of situations.
| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter