Michael Austin Ford is accused of setting fire on school buses he was driving on two separate occasions.Photo:KSL News/Youtube
KSL News/Youtube
He has been charged with two counts of arson of a vehicle of an organization receiving federal funds, the statement said.
Michael Austin Ford inside the bus authorities say he lit on fire.United States District Court of Utah
United States District Court of Utah
In April 2023, he was driving a school bus of the Granite School District when he allegedly lit a fire on the bus while in traffic, the attorney’s office statement said, citing surveillance footage. It wasn’t immediately clear if there were students on that bus and the attorney’s office did not respond to requests for further clarification.
In October 2023, authorities also launched an arson investigation after Ford’s home and vehicle were reportedly damaged in a fire, the court document alleged.
Utah school bus driver arrested
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Ford allegedly has a history of arson cases, per the motion for detention.
He allegedly “acknowledged to investigators” that he was involved in three other bus fires — one between 2001 and 2002, and the others in 2016 and 2017, according to the motion for detention.
He has entered a plea of not guilty, online court records show. An attorney listed in court records did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
