Verlinda Prior

Dora Roush

Elvira Zuniga

Three Columbus Junction residents have been arrested and charged with child endangerment, a Class D felony.

According to the Muscatine Police Department the Columbus Junction Police Department contacted them on June 7th in reference to a possible incident of child endangerment that occurred on a school bus. Investigation by Columbus Junction Police found that the incident occurred while the bus was in Muscatine. Columbus Junction residents 72-year-old Verlinda Prior, 53-year-old Dora Roush, and 48-year-old Elvira Zuniga were arrested and charged with child endangerment. Columbus Community Schools Superintendent Gary Benda says he was notified by the transportation director and the child’s parent on the day of the incident of a special needs student being restrained on May 1st. Benda says the three employees were sent letters on June 29th of their employment being terminated within 10 days. Benda says the school board is looking at creating a new transportation policy for special needs students, and that the district schedules Crisis Prevention Institute training for all school staff twice a year.