A Coweta County corrections officer is facing scrutiny after boarding a school bus and threatening to arrest children he claimed were bullying his son. Kristopher Elder, 37, a parent of a Northside Elementary School student, took the drastic step on January 5, leading to an internal investigation by the correctional institute and cooperations with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.
Elder's actions on the bus caused such distress that the driver felt compelled to pull over to comfort the frightened children, Elder was reported as having said "Bullying is illegal. I have handcuffs on my hip and I am not afraid to use them ... if it happens again I will contact your parents and will have you arrested for harassment and bullying," according to a WSB-TV report. Upon being confronted by the bus driver, who assured Elder she would handle the situation, Elder was admonished and warned not to board the bus again.
The incident didn't end on the bus; Elder continued to discuss the event with Northside Elementary's principal, Amy Addison, allegedly admitting his awareness of the potential consequences of his actions, declaring it's okay if he ends up in jail because "he is a man and he can take it." Addison, after reviewing the bus video footage, expressed she was “appalled” as she relayed to WSB-TV. In contrast, Elder declined comment when approached at his home, citing advice from his superiors.
Larry Clifton, the warden of Coweta County Correctional Institute, labeled Elder's behavior as "unacceptable" and is administering the situation as per the facility's policies, the warden has issued a statement affirming awareness and initiation of an immediate internal investigation; this was shared by WSB Radio. Despite the ongoing investigation and intense public interest, charges against Elder have not been filed as of this report.
