February 9th, [music] 2022, Flaggler County, Florida. A school transportation employee reports [music] smelling alcohol on bus driver Mark McNeel before he leaves the lot. McNeel then picks up around [music] 40 students and keeps driving even after supervisors radio him to pull over. By the time deputies get involved, the bus [music] ride is over, but McNeel is about to make one more bad decision. >> All right. So then she then tips off, says, "Hey, this guy who just left, I suspected he is under the influence of something or is like >> she said he smelt like alcohol." >> Oh, she told us that too just now. That's what I came back to. She just said that. She like, "I feel like I should do something." That's what she told us. >> Okay. >> And so immediately >> I just want to make sure somebody heard that, too. Okay. >> We we notified >> Hang out there for a second. I got to get some info from y'all. >> Absolutely. We came out here um to you guys immediately once we was tipped off because that's not a practice of ours. He should have never left. >> Right. No. And and listen, we're not here to accuse anyone. We're not saying anything like that. We're just trying to figure out the timeline cuz it was a big mess at first and we're just trying to figure out who knew what, who didn't know, what was said, who said, all that kind of stuff. >> Where where is he? >> He's going to the hospital right now. >> Are you guys going to do a >> We're Well, that's what we're still trying to figure out. Right now, he's going to the hospital for some medical. >> He He's a mandatory reporter. The reason that we notified you, I mean um he um so if he has any under influence because they overc know that. >> Yeah. So >> he he admitted to the fire department that he had two beams. >> Okay. >> So he openly admit >> So um I don't know how this works, but we need to do a blood draw because they considered a DUI or something like that. >> There's a whole that's what we we have a whole process for that. We're still going. >> Okay. So we were notified. >> You saw him driving, right? Or he was >> We got it on video. >> Yeah. On video. >> Yeah. Well, we we just need a wheel witness to say, "Hey, I saw him behind the wheel so and so." And that's what she is right now as a wheel witness. Okay. >> Um >> All right. Keep getting keep talking to them. I'm >> So So yeah, so we were notified um after we came out of our meeting that, hey, uh once the other supervisor realized he took the wrong bus. Um and Dorene came around the corner, she was like, "Oh, well, he kind of smelt like alcohol." And so we all lost our because >> that's something you probably should have stopped before getting off a lot. >> So, um, I immediately dispatched my supervisors to go to the bus and then we got on the phone with EMS and you guys so that we could stop the bus cuz we had called him on the radio and told him, "You need to pull over to a safe location, whatever, whatever." He refused. He wouldn't do it. >> Was he being like belligerent on the phone or was he just he just didn't say anything? >> Well, he he Yeah. Why? Why? >> You hear him on the radio. Why? Um, and like I say, we have the video and so I I so he was telling that back and forth to my supervisor. So then I got on the radio and said, "You need to pull the bus over immediately and it's nothing to be alarmed about. We're coming to meet the bus." He just kept going. And so once they got behind him, he still refused to stop. He just backing up, turned around, whatever. Just kept going as if he was right. >> So you're saying that he didn't have kids on the bus or he did? I'm still okay. So, he got this bus from the lot, went to the school, picked up the kids, and then he was doing his route here, and that's when everything >> he was doing his route down. He dropped off some down there, then he came here. I was able cuz I tried to catch him down there, >> but he wouldn't stop. So, I had to make a U-turn in the road and follow him. >> McNeel was sent by ambulance for a medical complaint, but officers soon received a very different call. They were out with a bus driver who was being transported to the hospital who is now bailed out of the back of the ambulance and took off on foot. Whiskey mike, black shoes, 5'8, blue shorts. Direction travel towards the hospice house and his vehicle may still be parked at transportation. >> Hospice house or dad >> behind. >> What did I do? >> Wait, wait. What did I do? >> What did I do? Sir, stop. >> Spread your legs out. Spread them right now. >> What did I do? >> We'll explain everything in just a second. >> All right. Okay. Okay. Okay. >> Oh my god. >> I didn't do anything. >> Can I Can I go home? >> I can't go home. >> What? What's going on, man? >> Go grab something. >> What am I doing? >> Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong? >> So, he jumped out of a >> Yeah. Yep. You took off from the ambulance. Yep. >> I'm sorry. >> Hey, wait. You're pushing me. You're pushing me hard. >> Okay. >> Yeah. You're pushing me hard. >> Barely touching me. >> I don't like that. >> I don't like that. You're pushing me hard. >> Yes, you are. You're pushing me hard. >> What did I do? >> Yeah. >> What did I do? >> What did I do, sir? Honestly. Honestly, >> why did you jump? Just out of curiosity, why'd you jump out of a dagamble? >> I got the school bus. >> I understand that. >> Okay. >> Why did you jump? Why did you jump out? >> I didn't jump out of the school bus. Okay. I just jumped out because I was scared. Okay. I I'm not going to lie down here. You >> I didn't say I'm not going to lie. You know, you see me. You see me. >> Go ahead and face the car. Look away from me, please. Yes. >> You have anything on you I should know about? >> Yes. What do you real bad with you? What did I do? >> I didn't do anything wrong. >> I didn't do anything wrong, >> sir. >> I didn't Sir. >> Okay, we're going to explain to you what's going on. Okay. >> I didn't do anything wrong. >> Okay. >> I didn't do anything wrong. I love my wife. My wife is home. She's worried about me. I have five kids, five children. >> Where's your ID at? >> Okay. Where's your ID at? >> Excuse me? >> Where is your identification at? >> Um, in my wallet. >> In your wallet. Where's your wallet? >> In your car. >> In the car? >> Yes, sir. >> Deputy King, >> I would not lie to you. >> There's nothing in your car. >> He hasn't been in my car. >> It's in the car. >> He hasn't been in my car. >> Been in the car? >> No. This is the car we got. >> Wait, wait, wait. >> It's in my car. >> Oh, it's in his car. >> It's in his car, bro. His car. Yeah, >> it's right there in my wallet. >> I would not lie to anybody. >> I don't lie to anybody. >> What is wrong with you guys? >> I'm just asking your name. What's your name? >> Mark McNeel. >> Mark McNeel? >> Yes. >> I don't lie to anybody. >> Okay, relax. >> I didn't do anything wrong. >> I was trying to figure that out. >> I didn't do anything wrong. >> You said you were driving a bus, right? >> Yes. >> I drive a school bus for the last 5 years. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yes. I don't know where he is. >> And I'm being arrested for what? >> You're being detained right now so we can figure out what happened. We're not doing anything right now besides trying to get information. Okay. >> You were there. >> How How was that? >> You were there. I saw you there yesterday. I saw you there. >> I didn't work yesterday. I don't know how you >> Yeah, whatever. I saw you there yesterday. >> Hey, what's your birthday, man? >> Huh? >> What's your birthday? >> Yeah. Why are you guys scolding me? >> Why? What? I'm not going to go away. >> I'm not going to go away. >> I'm not going to go away. >> Yeah. Why are you guys holding me? >> So you don't fall, sir. >> What? I'm not going to go away. I'm not going to go away. No. No. No. No. I'm not going to go away. Why are you holding me? >> So you don't fall. >> I'm not going to fall. >> Hey. >> Hey, man. >> What's wrong with you guys? All I wanted to do was go home. >> I just want to go home. >> What the hell, man? >> I just want to go home. >> What's wrong with you guys? You are arresting me >> for what? >> You're not being arrested RIGHT NOW. >> FOR WHAT? >> YOU'RE BEING DETAINED. >> ARRESTED. >> YEAH. For what? >> Mark, do you have a middle name? >> Michael. >> We're just trying to get on our song, >> man. Yeah. >> I want my wife. I want you to call my wife. >> Okay, we can do that, sir. >> Yeah, do that right now. Okay, >> do that. >> Because I'm not >> What did I do? I didn't do anything. >> Okay. >> What do you got all over your back, sir? >> Huh? >> What do you have all over your back? >> My backet. >> This is my my my what I wear when I drive a bus. >> No, but it looks like you either got puke or >> whatever, sir. Okay. I drive a bus for five years. >> Okay. >> Holy mackerel. >> Man, you guys are really detaining me for this? >> You're detaining me? >> Yeah. So, we figure out what happened. >> What happened? >> We're waiting for you to tell us. >> I told you already. Call my wife. Call my wife. >> Your wife wasn't there. So, how would she know? >> My wife knows. Okay. Okay. >> Your wife knows you were driving a school bus, right? >> I drive a school bus for the past 5 years. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. So, you tell me. >> There you go. >> Because I wasn't hurt. >> I was not hurt at all. All I cared was when my kids were not hurt. >> Okay. >> That's it. That's it. >> That's it. All I cared was my kids were not hurt. And you know what? And all the parents showed up at the bus stop and said the same thing. Hey, you know what? Hey, and I had I had two students, two students and two parents that told me that they would stick up for me. >> Okay. >> So, I'm going to go to jail now. >> We're just trying to figure out why >> I'm going to go to jail. >> That's all. >> Hey, man. Come on. Come on. I'm a good guy, man. I don't. All I care about is my children on the butt. >> Nobody said you. >> That's all I cared about. >> Okay. >> You know, that's all I care about is my kids on the bus, you know. >> Are you guys going to arrest me? >> You're going to arrest me? >> We're trying to figure out what happened. You say you care about the kids on the bus. Some of the kids got home and were scared. >> Yes, of course they were scared. >> Of course they were. >> Why? >> Because they were scared. >> Why would you be scared of the school bus? Why were the kids scared? >> Listen. Listen, you know, do you know what you're talking about, man? >> No. That's why I'm trying to ask you. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. All I was afraid of was the kids being >> of being screwed of being afraid of my butt. >> 15. >> You know what, man? You know what? Arrest me if you want. Just arrest me. >> Okay. >> We're just trying to figure out what >> Just arrest me. Just arrest me. Just arrest me. Go ahead. I don't care. I don't care. All I cared was was my kids on the bus were were were safe. That's all I cared about. Okay. That's all I cared about. Going to arrest me. Arrest me. All I cared about was my kids on the bus. That's it. >> Let's take him over there to that parking st. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Okay. I'm Deputy Parker with the Fire County Sheriff's Office. Okay. >> I know, sir. >> I know who you are. >> Okay. Okay. >> I know who you are. >> Okay. With that being said, okay, I want you to tell I want to tell you what I'm observing. Okay. When I talked to you earlier and asked you a couple questions, I smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage. >> Not at all. Okay. >> Not at all. >> Okay. With that being said, >> Not at all. >> I understand. With that being said, are you willing to do field sobriety exercises? >> I already did one this morning. You did fields Friday exercises? >> Yeah, cuz I had an accident yesterday. Yesterday? >> I had an accident yesterday. A guy hit me. >> Okay. >> A guy hit me. >> Okay. >> Okay, >> sir. Sir, >> are you willing to do field sobriety exercises? >> No. >> No. Okay. You have that right. You >> Okay. So, you're going to arrest me? >> Okay. So, you're going to arrest me, >> sir. I need you to listen to me. >> Okay. You have the right You have the right to refuse to do Phil's privacy. That's fine. But unver under adverse consequences, I can make an arrest for DUI, >> sir. >> Okay, sir. >> All right. So, you know what? >> Are you Are you really thinking that I'm >> Go ahead. Let's go ahead and put in my car. >> Okay. So, at this time, you placed an arrest for operating vehicle. Okay. >> DUI. Go ahead, put them in my car. >> First of all, you really think that that would drive a bunch of school kids, huh? You really think that that I would do that? Huh? Yeah. What the hell? What the hell do you look like? >> Hold on. Give me a sec. Sir, please stop moving. >> I'm not moving. >> Yes, you are. >> No, I'm not. >> Look at you. Look at you. You would think that. You would do that. >> Face that way. >> You would do that. Hey, stop. >> Don't hit me. DON'T HIT ME. >> DON'T HIT ME. >> Don't hit me. Look at He's hitting me. >> Mhm. I see. >> He's hitting me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do not get right. >> What's up, sir? >> How do you feel about the whole resisting? Absolutely. Okay. >> I need to call my wife >> cuz he's definitely passive resisting. >> I need to call my wife to >> get in the car and all that stuff. >> You understand? >> Yep. >> Do you need anything for me? >> Nope. >> All right. I can't call my wife. >> Yes, sir. You can call your wife. >> Can I? >> YEAH. NOT RIGHT. Not right the second. SORRY. >> WHEN IS GOING TO HAPPEN? IN 4 HOURS. >> Delta 12. >> Delta 12. >> Delta. Show me primary J call to do 50. >> You know what you guys are doing, man. You make me lose my job. >> You know, >> you might even lose my job. control. >> Dispatch has been updated. >> November. >> Handcuffs are killing me here. >> Okay. >> All right. Can I take them off, please? >> I'll get them off you. CAN I TAKE THE HANDCUFFS OFF >> WHEN I GET TO when I get to jail? >> They're hurting me. >> They're hurting me. >> Okay, >> sir. >> Please take these off. >> I will get them off to you when we get to the jail, sir. >> No, take them off me now. >> No, sir. >> They're hurting me. >> There's one. We have unit go to the 212 control. >> Go ahead. Yes, sir. I got a whiskey mic sent you. >> I'm getting arrested because I failed to so I failed to take a a test. Yeah, that's nice. Yeah, >> you [ __ ] >> You're arresting me because I failed to take a an ambulance test, right? >> An ambulance test? >> Yeah. Yeah. YOU SAID I FAILED TO GO TO an ambulance, right? >> No. Yeah. Yeah. That's what you said. That's what you said. >> No, sir. It's not. >> That's what you said. >> Yeah. That's why. >> And you killed in my hands. That's >> McNeel was charged with DUI with passengers [music] under 18, child neglect, and resisting an officer without violence. Authorities said his blood alcohol [music] level was roughly four times the legal limit, with dozens of additional child neglect charges potentially still ahead. Driving the students home started the problem.