A Princeton woman accused of boarding a school bus with a knife was indicted by the Caldwell County Grand Jury last week.
A true bill was issued on Amanda Raye Cansler, also known as Amanda Rogers, on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, along with three misdemeanor charges: public intoxication, second-degree disorderly conduct, and menacing.
The charges stem from an incident on August 20, when Princeton Police reported that officers responded to the 600 block of Fairview Church Road regarding an intoxicated woman who had boarded a school bus through the back door.
According to police, the bus driver reported that Cansler initially tried to enter the bus through the loading door but was unsuccessful. She reportedly boarded the bus through the back door as the bus began to drive away. Police said the bus driver then radioed for assistance, stopped the bus, and positioned himself between Cansler and the students, as she was behaving erratically and speaking incoherently. Authorities also noted that Cansler was seen with a folding knife, which she had taken out while on the bus. After a few minutes, she exited through the back door, and police later found her hiding in a ditch in the woods, where she was taken into custody.
Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Roach recognized the bus driver, JD Wilson, at the Caldwell County School Board meeting on September 16 for his exceptional actions. of “going above and beyond the call of duty.” Wilson, a past president and current member of the Princeton Rotary Club, was recently honored by the club for his efforts.
