Polk County School Bus Driver Charged In Sexual Battery

LAKELAND, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Tuesday announcement of a sexual battery arrest involving a caregiver at an assisted living facility has Polk County Sheriff’s deputies seeking other potential victims. The Plant City man also worked as a bus driver for Polk County Schools, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday.

According to Polk deputies, the agency has received no reports of other victims, but wants to make the public aware of the arrest. Brian Coffee, 55, had worked as a bus driver for Polk County Schools since 2010, the sheriff’s office reported in a Wednesday email to media. During the 2016-17 school year, Coffee drove buses for George W. Jenkins High; Medulla, James W. Sikes and Kingsford Elementary schools; and Lakeland Heights and Mulberry Middle schools, the sheriff’s office said.

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“If any Polk County residents are aware of any inappropriate contact between Coffee and students, or any other victims, they are encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office (863-298-6200) or their local police department,” the email said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday that Coffee stands accused of sexually battering a mentally and physically disabled adult at an assisted living facility within that county. Coffee was on duty as a caregiver at the time of the alleged attack, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies are not releasing the name of the facility to protect the patient’s identity.

“Coffee has worked at several assisted living facilities for mentally and physically disabled adults dating back to at least 2009,” a Tuesday afternoon email from the Hillsborough agency said.

No further information is being released at this time.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office