Two Hammond School Bus Employees Charged After Alleged Bus Incident Involving Special Needs Child
Linda Verduzco, 85, of Hammond, and Tammy Grace Allenbaugh, 62, of St. John, are facing felony charges after authorities allege a 6-year-old autistic student was physically handled and restrained during an incident on a School City of Hammond special needs bus.
According to court documents, the incident occurred February 18, 2026 on a bus transporting students from Frank O’Bannon Elementary School in Hammond.
A Probable Cause Affidavit states investigators began reviewing the incident after the child’s mother questioned school officials about scratches that appeared on her daughter’s face. School personnel reviewed video from the school bus and reportedly discovered footage showing the encounter between the child and transportation staff.
Court documents state the video shows Linda Verduzco, a bus aide, grabbing the front of the child’s safety harness and pulling her down the aisle toward a seat as the child grabbed at seat belts while being tugged. Investigators say the child was pulled off her feet and dragged by the harness to a seat located about halfway down the bus.
The affidavit states Tammy Allenbaugh, the bus driver, looked in the mirror and told the child, “(Victim 1), stop that right now,” before exiting the driver’s seat and walking toward the rear of the bus.
Additional video footage allegedly shows both Verduzco and Allenbaugh lifting the child by the harness shoulder straps while attempting to secure her in the seat. The child reportedly began crying loudly as the employees attempted to fasten the harness straps to the bus seat.
Investigators allege Verduzco shoved the child into the corner of the seat and the side wall of the bus, causing an audible impact. The affidavit states the child repeatedly said “I’m sorry,” while crying.
Court documents state Verduzco responded to the child by saying “No, you’re not,” while again shoving the child into the seat corner.
Authorities allege Verduzco continued pushing and pulling the child while attempting to keep her restrained in the seat harness. At times, Verduzco allegedly held the child in place by pressing her elbow against the child’s neck.
Investigators further allege that as the child continued struggling against the harness, Verduzco grabbed the child by the head and shoved her into the seat corner and bus wall again. The affidavit states the child was also elbowed in the chest during the encounter.
Court documents state the child remained harnessed to the seat while Verduzco attempted to restrain her movements for several minutes as the child cried and apologized.
At one point during the incident, Verduzco allegedly asked, “Do we have to take her back to school? Can we drop her off in alley?” before laughing.
Police say the child’s mother later provided photographs showing scratches on the child’s face and a bump on her forehead. Investigators believe the injuries occurred when the child’s face struck the side wall of the bus seat area during the incident.
Police later went to Verduzco’s residence and placed her under arrest. According to the affidavit, Verduzco asked officers, “For the little girl?” when she was informed she was being arrested.
During a recorded interview with investigators, Verduzco admitted she was employed as a bus monitor and had received training on proper restraint procedures for special needs students. Verduzco acknowledged restraining the child to prevent her from standing or unbuckling the harness but denied intentionally harming her.
Verduzco reportedly told investigators the video of the incident was “horrible and embarrassing.” She said she did not recall elbowing the child or placing her in a headlock and claimed she did not remember telling the child she would be dropped off in an alley, stating if she did say that it was meant as a joke.
Investigators say Verduzco also stated Allenbaugh used a cellphone to record the child after the child kicked and cursed at her, and that she later heard Allenbaugh had deleted the video.
The School City of Hammond told Region News, “We take all allegations regarding any inappropriate behavior toward students very seriously. By state statute, Child Protective Services is immediately contacted anytime an allegation is made. Depending on the circumstances, many times the Hammond Police are also notified and become involved. After completing an investigation, appropriate action was taken. In this case, the Board voted on March 3, 2026, to terminate the employment of the two transportation employees.”
Both cases were filed March 4, 2026 in Lake Superior Court and remain pending.
Charges filed March 4,2026:
• Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Disabled Person — Level 5 Felony
• Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Person Under 14 — Level 5 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Bodily Injury — Level 5 Felony
• Battery Against a Disabled Person — Level 6 Felony
• Battery on a Person Under 14 — Level 6 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent — Level 6 Felony
