Man Charged In Newtown Starbucks Incident Is First Student Driver

NEWTOWN, PA — A man charged in connection with an incident this week at the State Street Starbucks is a school bus driver for First Student, which serves the Council Rock School District, school officials said in a letter to the school community.

The district's transportation department has notified First Student that he can no longer serve as a driver for Council Rock, the letter to parents said.

Vincent Lewis, 63, of Newtown was charged with harassment and criminal mischief after police said he "made contact" with a woman, damaging her phone on Monday. The incident was captured on video and viewed widely on Facebook. A video of the encounter can be seen here.

"While the District firmly believes the individual charged is entitled to due process, our transportation department has notified First Student that the individual may no longer serve as a driver in the Council Rock School District," Superintendent Robert Fraser said in a message to the school community.

First Student has not responded to a request for comment from Patch.

According to the video and information from police, a woman who was putting up flyers related to the death of George Floyd was approached by a couple. The man, later identified as Lewis, began yelling at them. He then slapped her phone from her hands and a verbal altercation ensued.

Police were called to the scene and conducted interviews with all involved parties on Tuesday.

"The facts of the case, along with the video, were reviewed by the District Attorney and there was a consensus that the most appropriate charges given the facts of the incident are harassment for making contact with the victim and criminal mischief for causing damage to the phone when it was knocked from the victim's hands," Newtown Borough said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Each charge carries a maximum fine of $300. Authorities are also seeking restitution to be paid to the victim for a phone repair, police said.