A Massachusetts crossing guard was arrested for allegedly whacking a mother and her 12-year-old daughter with his stop sign — only to be nabbed hours later for assaulting reporters outside a courthouse.
Louis Chaves, 68, launched his rage-fueled attack around 7:30 a.m. Monday outside Taunton High School after the mother stopped her car in the intersection to sneeze and grab a tissue, according to WVBC.
The irate crossing guard allegedly shouted at the woman to move her car and ran to the vehicle seconds before his violent tantrum.
WKYT
“He was yelling at her while her child was in the vehicle,” the prosecutor told the court during Chaves’ hearing Monday afternoon, according to the outlet.
“The crossing guard then put the stop sign through the passenger window and started swinging it all around the car, calling her names.”
While carelessly swinging his club, Chaves allegedly hit the mother’s child in the arm with his sign, the outlet reported, citing police.
After the woman watched her daughter get hit, she quickly got out of her vehicle.
The crossing guard then pushed the mother to the ground, where his alleged vicious attack only escalated.
“While she was on the ground, she was dragged and kicked repeatedly by the defendant,” the prosecutor told the court.
The mother was taken to Morton Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Taunton High School — about 35 miles outside of Boston — immediately fired Chaves for his reported violent outburst, and he is no longer associated with the school.
“Taunton Public Schools is aware of a physical altercation this morning (June 3) involving a crossing guard,” Taunton Public Schools said in a statement, according to WVCB.
“The crossing guard has been terminated, effective immediately, and is no longer an employee of Taunton Public Schools.”
Chaves was charged Monday with three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
He was released that same day on bail after pleading not guilty in court.
However, Chaves’ tirade did not end there.
While leaving court Monday, the now-fired crossing guard confronted one TV news photographer and swung at another.
A woman with Chaves screamed for him to stop, but she was unable to control him.
Seconds later, Chaves was seen throwing tree branches at them as he headed toward the parking lot.
He was then arrested again.
The disgraced former crossing guard was arraigned in court again Tuesday on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault and battery, according to WCVB.
“Mr. Chaves goes by, assaults one cameraman, steps back, and then can be seen kicking him,” prosecutor Sean Gillis said during his Tuesday court appearance, according to the outlet.
“A second cameraman, he strikes him with an open-handed slap.”
His attorneys said Chaves became anxious around the cameras because their client suffers from a speech impediment, according to CBS News.
Chaves’ son-in-law told the outlet that the second assault while leaving court Monday was because he was upset with losing his job and was embarrassed.
“I think the overwhelm and shock of actually being in court and finding out you lost your job, and the embarrassment you have to deal with in a town you’ve lived in your whole life,” his son-in-law told the outlet.
“It’s a big thing and a big adjustment to have to make instantly and to walk out, and now you have cameras popping up in your face.”
Chaves is scheduled to return to court in August.
