The Grafton Police Department arrested a 54-year-old school bus driver and charged him with two counts of kidnapping after he allegedly deviated from his assigned route and made unauthorized stops with students onboard. Additional charges include reckless endangerment of a child, misleading police and tampering with evidence; authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Identified as Redi Gace by local prosecutors, he was arraigned in Westboro District Court and is held on $50,000 bail; if released he would face house arrest with GPS monitoring. School officials say they have contacted affected families and are coordinating with police and the bus company.
Mass. School Bus Driver Arrested, Charged With Kidnapping After Alleged Route Deviations and Unauthorized Stops
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A school bus driver in Grafton, Massachusetts, has been arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping after authorities say he deviated from his assigned route with students aboard and made unauthorized stops.
Grafton Police announced on Jan. 14 that the arrest followed an investigation into alleged crimes against children. In addition to the two kidnapping counts, the 54-year-old Worcester man faces charges of reckless endangerment of a child, misleading a police investigation and tampering with evidence. Officials said the probe remains active and additional charges could be filed.
In a statement, Grafton Public Schools Superintendent Jay Cummings said the driver, previously employed by AA Transportation, "deviated from his route with students in the vehicle and made unauthorized stops." The district said it is in direct contact with affected families and is offering support and resources as the investigation continues.
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The Worcester County District Attorney's Office—cited by local media—identified the defendant as Redi Gace. Police confirmed he was arraigned Wednesday in Westboro District Court and is being held on $50,000 bail. Authorities said that if he posts bail he would be placed on house arrest with GPS monitoring.
Community Response and Investigation
Grafton Police emphasized that "the safety and well-being of our community's children is our highest priority" and said they are coordinating closely with the school district and AA Transportation to ensure student safety. Officials added that the suspect is no longer employed by AA Transportation and that he was not assigned to general student transportation routes.
"We understand that news of this arrest may cause concern among parents and families," the police statement read. The department urged parents and guardians to have age-appropriate conversations with children and to teach them to report any concerning behavior to a trusted adult.
Authorities said they cannot provide additional details while the investigation is active. Media outlets reporting on the arrest include NBC Boston and PEOPLE. The Grafton Police Department and the Worcester County District Attorney's Office are continuing their inquiries.
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