SLEEPY EYE — A 65-year-old Evan man who drives for Sleepy Eye Bus Lines faces three charges stemming from an alleged Oct. 5, 2022 incident with a student in Sleepy Eye.

One gross misdemeanor charge malicious punishment of a child and two counts of misdemeanor 5th-degree assault were filed against Marcus P. Radel, 65, 61 Knudson St. Nov. 30, 2022 in Brown County District Court. A remote court hearing via Zoom was set for 8:30 a.m., Jan. 3, 2023.

According to court documents, Sleepy Eye Police Investigator Shawn Bohnen received information about an alleged assault involving a student the previous day on a bus in Sleepy Eye.

The Sleepy Eye Bus Lines owner confirmed he received a complaint about his bus driver, Radel, who drives football players from the public school to St. Mary’s School. The bus line owner said it was alleged that his driver, Radel, witnessed the student tripping other students as they walked down the bus aisle. Radel confronted the victim and allegedly pushed his legs into his seat and put his hands on him.

The Sleepy Eye High School principal told Bohnen the victim admitted to having his legs in the bus aisle, Radel pushed his legs and put his hands on his neck.

On Oct 6, 2022, Bohnen obtained a statement from the student who said he had his feet in the bus aisle, not letting people through and the bus driver came back and slapped his knee to get his legs in the seat and the student smiled at Radel. The student said Radel said “wipe that smile off your face,” grabbed under his chin, between his chin and neck with his right hand and squeezed a little. The student said Radel also slapped his chin/cheek, but he was fine and had no marks or bruises from the incident.

The student said the entire football team was on the bus but no coaches were present. The student felt three teammates witnessed what happened.

The student’s mother said he told her he was fearful for about five seconds after the incident.

Investigator Bohnen met with the three juveniles who told him the same story the student did.

Investigator Bohnen met with Radel at the bus company and told him he told the student to stop putting his feet across the aisle to prevent students from getting through, but the student began to “smash into/plow/tackle” children as they walked down the aisle.

Radel said that caused children to fall into a seat across from the student. Radel said he told the student to stop, but he did it again. Radel said he felt like the student was bullying other children.

Radel said he put his hand on the student’s shoulder and told him to stop, then asked the student if he was being clear. Radel said some of the children said “yes” and there were no other issues after that.

Radel denied pushing or slapping the student’s leg or face, denied grabbing his neck/chin but said something about getting the smirk off his face.