Police arrest East Providence man for assaulting school bus driver

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The East Providence Police Department announced on Tuesday it arrested an East Providence man for allegedly assaulting a school bus driver in November.

Robert McCoart, 39, is charged with simple assault and battery, and disorderly conducted.

On Nov. 22, McCoart allegedly physically assaulted a school bus driver, used racial slurs, and threatened to harm the driver and his family, according to East Providence police.

After police spent several days searching for McCoart, he turned himself in on Nov. 27.

“This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our community,” the East Providence Police Department said. “We are committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all individuals.”

East Providence police posted to Facebook security camera footage of the incident.

In the video, the man police say is McCoart can be heard saying the bus driver assaulted his son and made him cry.

ABC 6 News has reached out to East Providence police for information on what lead up to the assault.

Police referred questions to the school department.