Polk County School Driver Confessed To Detectives He Damaged Bus Video Cameras

POLK COUNTY, FL — A bus driver with Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) is accused by deputies that he damaged a video surveillance system hard drive on his bus multiple times to prevent from getting into trouble, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Vernorris Rambow of Kissimmee was arrested for a felony criminal mischief charge Friday, deputies said.

Rambow posted $1,000 bond and was released from the Polk County Jail, the sheriff's office said.

Rambow is accused of damaging the video systems four separate times, the sheriff's office said.

Polk County Public Schools received a complaint about Rambow in September 2021, and the school staff sent a specialist to retrieve the video from the on-board camera, the affidavit said.

A damaged hard drive and wires prevented the specialist from taking the video, deputies said.

A new hardware was installed on the bus, and in November 2021, a parent complained about the bullying their child had experienced on Rambow's bus. A specialist had the same problem retrieving the video that they had in September, deputies said.

Again, the hardware was replaced.

Rambow's supervisor told investigators that she had an intense phone conversation with him in January while he was on the bus. The supervisor sent a specialist to retrieve the bus video for evidence of the conversation for disciplinary reasons, the sheriff's office said.

No video existed, deputies said.

The hardware was replaced for a third time.

PCPS told authorities that after the third incident they became suspicious of Rambow intentionally damaging the drives, the sheriff's office said.

Rambow admitted to detectives during a recent interview that he had damaged all four drives because he did not want to get in trouble at work.

Deputies said it does not appear that the suspect damaged the equipment to avoid any other crime being committed.

According to PCPS, each hard drive is worth $360, with total damage equaling $1,440.