TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ( WBRC ) - Tuscaloosa City Schools is responding after a lawsuit filed against them claims a bus driver abused a girl with special needs.

That lawsuit, filed by the mother, claims her daughter, who has autism and is non-verbal, was abused by Tuscaloosa City Schools bus driver Samuel L. Jones.

Jones was arrested in January and faces a felony charge of assault/willful abuse of a child.

According to documents, video evidence shows Jones striking the girl in January, with his hands and a belt more than 20 times. It also claims two aides on the bus didn’t try to stop Jones, and alleges one aide encouraged him to continue hitting the girl.

Tuscaloosa Police are investigating the case.

Jones is no longer employed with the school system.

Tuscaloosa City Schools sent us th

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