Updated: 9:31 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 | Posted: 5:14 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

Charlotte Radio Show Employee To Turn Himself Into Police After Getting On School Bus

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

On the first day of school, Charlotte was awash in school buses. But one bus heading to Southwest Middle School unknowingly became a punch line for a morning radio show on 96.1 “The Beat.”

A part-time employee called “Cubby” on the air is actually Jase Edward Squires, 26, who's now under investigation by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools law enforcement. Police expected Squires to turn himself in on Tuesday morning.

A CMS spokeswoman said Squires stood with children at the entrance to the Hamilton Lakes neighborhood, walked onto the bus with them and then talked live on the air with his cell phone to the “A.M. Mayhem” show DJs, who couldn't stop laughing about it.

CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman told Eyewitness News other parents at the bus stop stood around and did not address Squires when he got onto the bus.

The recording of the “A.M. Mayhem” show was still playing on 96.1’s Web site Monday afternoon.

RAW AUDIO: School Bus Prank On A.M. Mayhem

“Cubby, is she letting you on the bus?” a DJ asks.

“Yes,” Squires said.

Laughter follows.

“Cubby, you're on the bus. I didn't think they'd let you on,” a DJ said.

“Guess what? They did,” Squires said.

The radio station’s general manager, Morgan Bohannon, called it a morning show stunt gone bad. He said the DJs didn't mean for Squires to really get on the bus.

“Some young, energetic air talent got a little out of control, probably took it a step or two too far,” said Bohannon, with Clear Channel Communications. “It was his intent to get the bus driver to throw him off.”

CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman said he doesn't think that would have been funny either, and he called it a scary situation for the driver and students.

“They got their moment in the sun and are probably proud of it, but our issue is what do we do to make sure our buses are safer,” Gorman said.

A CMS spokeswoman said the bus driver involved is suspended with pay while CMS law enforcement investigates why she let Squires on the bus.

The radio station manager said all of those involved are still on the payroll, and any discipline will be handled internally.

Squires, however, will face criminal charges. CMS officials took the case to the district attorney’s office, which has issued a warrant for Squires arrest on a charge of disturbance on a school bus.

Squires was previously arrested in November 2002 on a charge of soliciting sex from an undercover officer. He agreed to admit guilt, and the charges were dropped after a year.

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