A bus aide, who has since resigned, has been charged with felonies after she allegedly struck a 7-year-old special ed student in the head on a bus in Algonquin.
Joyce C. McFadden, 75, of Huntley, was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, a Class 3 felony.
The Algonquin Police Department Campus Resource Officer was notified on August 18 of an incident that occurred on a school bus the previous day.
Algonquin Deputy Police Chief Ryan Markham said the officer learned McFadden, a special education bus aide, had struck a 7-year-old boy.
The boy is a student of Mackeben Elementary School and the incident happened on the after-school bus route.
Markham said the officer investigated the matter and reviewed video footage from the interior of the school bus.
Officers also worked to determine the location of the school bus at the time of the incident and confirmed it happened in Algonquin.
The investigation revealed that McFadden had struck the student in the head with both an open hand and with paperwork that she had been holding, Markham said.
A grand jury indictment said McFadden also pushed the boy’s head down.
The Huntley Community School District 158 and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) also conducted an investigation of the incident.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved the felony charge against McFadden.
An arrest warrant was obtained for McFadden following the investigation.
McFadden, who was initially charged with one count of aggravated battery, was indicted Thursday on three additional counts.
The school district confirmed McFadden is no longer employed after she resigned on August 22.
McFadden is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for an arraignment hearing.