Updated: Trussville school buses found, suspects identified

Trussville, Ala.—-The buses were found this morning off of Deerfoot Parkway.  They were left in bad shape at the end of a dirt road across from Clay Chalkville High School.  Authorities indicate they have the suspects on videotape and have already identified at least one of them.

A tip led Trussville police down a long dirt road off of Deerfoot Parkway where Trussville’s missing school buses were found.

Trussville City Schools, Kelly Bowles said, “There was considerable damage done to the buses, the buses were found somewhere off Deerfoot Parkway.“

This bus had been slammed into a tree, it’s engine cover torn off and crumpled..http://media.nbc13.com/wvtm/images/uploads/trussville_bus2.JPG

A bobcat had to be used to pull all of the buses from a long dirt road off of Deerfoot Parkway, this one had been set on fire.  http://media.nbc13.com/wvtm/images/uploads/burned_bus.JPG It technically was bus number four, but it doesn’t belong to Trussville.  It’s unclear which school district may claim it.

Once the buses were found, the investigation took off, starting with fingerprints from the bus, and security tape from the school and bus.  It’s clear whoever took them took them for a joy ride.  Trussville City Schools has every intention to prosecute and seek compensation for the damaged buses.  If it’s students they face penalties from the district and police.

Bowles said, “Here at Trussville City Schools, we would definitely follow our code of conduct, there would be severe consequences there but obviously we would have to turn some of the legal matter over to Trussville’s Police Department.“

Many districts are breathing a sigh of relief, the buses were found so close to home.  Some are also rethinking security measures, that included locked fences, to keep this from happening to other school buses in the future.

The buses were taken from Trussville Middle and High Schools between Saturday and Sunday.