School bus driver accused of DUI, evading police, using child as ‘shield’

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) — A South Carolina woman is facing charges after police said she drove a school bus impaired and led police on a chase with her child in the vehicle before eventually using him as “a shield.”

Shakira Jones, 23, is charged with failure to stop for blue lights and sirens, driving under the influence and child endangerment.

North Charleston police said they received an alert at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday about a school bus driving erratically. Reports stated that the bus nearly hit another vehicle and that there were suspicions about the driver’s sobriety.

Officers found the bus and said they saw it traveling at around 65 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone and watched it make an improper turn, followed by multiple improper and erratic lane changes.

Police tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the bus sped up and did not stop.

Police said the bus led officers on a chase and continued driving erratically. Eventually, the driver sped into a parking lot where school staff were present. Staff members had to move out of the way to avoid the bus and the officers.

The bus came to a final stop, but the driver refused to exit, police said.

Officers were eventually able to see the driver and identify her as Jones.

A report states that officers readied their weapons and issued more commands, at which point Jones placed her child in front of her “in an attempt to shield herself from officers.”

Police were able to remove the child, and, after a brief struggle, officers brought Jones into custody.

Investigating officers reportedly found a bottle of prescribed amphetamines among Jones’ items, which were reportedly within arm’s reach of the driver’s seat.

Police said they performed field sobriety testing, which led officers to conclude that she had been driving while impaired.

Jones was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. No bond has been issued.