Teen ‘tired of walking’ steals school bus
Walking, a physical act similar to exercise, is dreadfully boring, which only partially explains the runaway success of MARTA.
It may also explain why a Georgia teen just released from jail would steal a school bus to get home.
In Fort Oglethorpe, a tiny town up near Tennessee, the very bedrock of society was rocked when a Flintstone, Ga., teen absconded with a Catoosa County school bus.
Fort Oglethorpe Detective James Leamon told CatoosaNews.com that Jonathan Cole Collins, 18, took bus No. 77 from the parking lot of Battlefield Primary School Feb. 1 and drove it eight miles to Chattanooga Valley Elementary School in neighboring Walker County.
“[Collins] stated that he had walked into Fort Oglethorpe from the Catoosa County Detention Center (a trip of about 6½ miles), and was getting tired. He saw the open bus door, the keys inside, and decided that he wasn’t going to walk anymore,” said Leamon.
Video from a school bus camera quickly identified Collins, who was arrested Feb. 5.
Collins remained jailed Tuesday on theft charges. School bus drivers are advised to not leave the keys in unlocked vehicles the day he gets out.
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34 comments Add your comment
jtom
February 12th, 2013
1:00 pm
” the runaway success of MARTA?” Does that mean they no longer need to feed at the trough of taxpayer dollars? Until they are financially solvent without such support, they rate a big ‘fail’.
L.E.M.K.
February 12th, 2013
1:09 pm
One of the most frustrating things about working with juvenile offenders and DFACS kids is that the success of the individual is often impeded by the parent or care taker. I have seen on numerous occasions parents making promises to their kids “I can’t wait to pick you up and see you when you are released” only for that day to come and no parent is there. Often times the child is lucky if even a caseworker is there to pick them up. I have even worked with kids who fear being released because they know there is no one for them on the outside and they crave the stability of being on the inside.
I realize this young man was not in a juvenile facility but to me he is young enough to be considered a young person with the need for support from a guardian. I do not know what he was serving time for initially but I can understand how hopeless and apathetic he must have felt. To be released from jail and have no one care enough to pick you up. I doubt he had any cash, so it is not like he could have called a cab. Even if he did call a cab, maybe he had no one on the receiving end to pay for it or even no place to go? Maybe he wanted to go back to jail or maybe he just didn’t care; why should he? There is more to this story than the witty coverage of a small town school bus theft and it saddens me.
Sharon
February 12th, 2013
1:09 pm
He should get some credit for driving the vehicle to another elementary school and not damaging it.
Michael Turner
February 12th, 2013
1:10 pm
Rob you are a moron and lack comedy skills. Freds678, thanks for making some excellent points.
Tag
February 12th, 2013
1:15 pm
This guy needs to go to jail before someone gets hurt.
dsm
February 12th, 2013
1:15 pm
The “bedrock” reference was a link to the name of the town, Flintstone. Remember the cartoon Flinstones? They lived in bedrock…..
atlien
February 12th, 2013
1:17 pm
nice try rob, it’s obvious what you are trying to do, but your logic is way off.
dsm
February 12th, 2013
1:17 pm
Has everyone lost their sense of humor? While the matter is serious, it appears obvious to me that this typically poorly written AJC article is very tongue in cheek……
wp
February 12th, 2013
2:49 pm
Why would someone leave the keys in the bus. That was stupid.
Bubba
February 12th, 2013
3:21 pm
Typical of the Obama generation. Looking for a free ride at taxpayer’s expense.