Crime & Safety

Long Island School Bus Driver Kissed Student on Bus: Police

Police say the 62-year-old bus driver asked a 15-year-old girl for a hug and when she refused, he kissed her.

(SCPD photo)

A Long Island school bus driver accused of kissing a 15-year-old girl on his bus was arrested Sunday night, Suffolk Police said.

According to police, Joel Cedeno, 62, was driving a school bus for Montauk Bus when he pulled over on Main Street in Patchogue on March 19 at 6:16 a.m. and asked a 15-year-old female student, who was the only passenger on the bus, for a hug. She offered a handshake and then Cedano kissed her, police said.

The mother of the Patchogue-Medford High School student reported the incident to the school district and school officials called police, authorities said.

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Following an investigation by the Fifth Precinct Crime Section, Cedano, of Shirley, turned himself in at the Fifth Precinct in Patchogue Sunday night, police said. He was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 21.

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