East Providence Man Charged in School Bus Assault

Robert McCoart, a 39-year-old man from East Providence, has been charged with simple assault, battery, and disorderly conduct following an incident on a school bus in late November where he allegedly physically assaulted the bus driver, used racial slurs, and threatened the driver and his family. Parents of students on the bus have voiced concerns over the driver's treatment of children, stating prior incidents of rudeness and disrespect, which they believe contributed to McCoart's actions. In a video shared by the police, McCoart can be heard accusing the bus driver of making his son cry and threatening to follow the bus. After several days of searching, McCoart surrendered to police on November 27 and was subsequently arraigned. The East Providence Police Department has emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the community. McCoart has been released on personal recognizance pending further court proceedings set for January 7.