A Memphis woman who reportedly slapped a Durham bus driver and pulled a gun on him landed in Shelby County Jail last week. She now faces 10 felony counts.
According to the affidavit, the driver, Donald Hutchinson, stopped at Richbrook Drive and Walden Ridge Drive near Bartlett around 4 p.m. Sept. 12. Memphis Police detectives reviewed video evidence that shows Ratonya D. Jones, 40, boarding the bus and slapping the driver. As he pushed her down to exit the bus, she pulled a black handgun out of her waistband and pointed it at him.
There were eight children trying to exit the bus at the time.
She is charged with one count of aggravated assault, a C felony; one count of carrying a weapon on school property, an E felony; and eight counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, all E felonies.
People convicted of class C felonies can be sentenced to prison terms of three to 15 years, as well as fines of up to $10,000. Class E felonies, the least serious felonies in Tennessee, are punishable by one to six years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $3,000.
She bonded out of jail on Sept. 14 with a $75,000 surety bond.
CAROLYN BAHM is the editor of The Bartlett Express. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to carolyn.bahm@journalinc.com.
