TAUNTON, MA – A Massachusetts crossing guard allegedly attacked a mother and her 12-year-old daughter with his stop sign then later assaulted reporters outside a courthouse, according to law enforcement. Louis Chaves, 68, was arrested around 7:30 a.m. Monday outside Taunton High School following an incident with a mother who had stopped her vehicle in an intersection to sneeze.
The crossing guard is accused of shouting at the woman to move her car and then running towards the vehicle to unleash a violent tirade. The altercation escalated when Chaves allegedly put the stop sign through the passenger window, swinging it around the car and in the process, hitting the child’s arm. As soon as the mother got out of the car, Chaves allegedly pushed her to the ground and continued attacking her, according to statements made in court by the prosecutor.
Following the morning argument, the mother was taken to Morton Hospital for minor injuries treatment, and Chaves was arrested. Taunton High School, about 35 miles outside of Boston, promptly fired Chaves. A statement from Taunton Public Schools confirmed that the crossing guard was no longer an employee.
By the afternoon, Chaves had been arraigned on multiple counts of assault and battery while using a dangerous weapon. He was released on bail after he pleaded not guilty.
Notably, Chaves confronted and attacked a TV news photographer while leaving court post-hearing. In spite of attempts to control him by an accompanying woman, Chaves resorted to throwing tree branches at the crowd. This led to his second arrest and arraignment on additional assault charges. Chaves is scheduled to appear in court in August.