Bus company drops driver who dropped drawers, yelled profanities Police are looking to host a meeting of neighborhood residents to address concerns about parking on the street.

Matt Kadosh | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Raw video: Bus driver moons man in driveway confrontation An argument between a Belleville man and a bus driver he said was blocking his driveway led to an unusual act by the driver that cost him his job.

Academy Street resident AnneMarie Pruznak, 50, who also witnessed the incident, said the driver's flashy actions took her by surprise.

BELLEVILLE — A longstanding dispute over buses blocking driveways on Academy Street reared its head when a cheeky driver "mooned" a man, who claimed the driver was blocking access to his driveway.

Alex Gasbarro, 58, of Academy Street, said he was filming with his cellphone on Thursday and asked the driver to move so he could access the driveway. But instead of moving the bus, a video recorded by Gasbarro shows, the driver cursed at him then pulled down his pants and flashed his bottom.

Robert Garcia, manager of the bus company Robert Tours, which was taking students from the St. Mary and St. Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church for a field trip that day, said the driver who dropped his trousers has since been fired.

“We took care of it by removing him because that is something we would not tolerate,” Garcia said.

The driver had been hired by an affiliate of Robert Tours, which was working with his company that day, he said. Garcia declined to release the driver’s name.

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The problem of buses blocking driveways dates back to at least 2016. However, safety concerns rule out the possibility of alternate pickup locations, Minichini said.

“We want it to be safe for the children to get on and off the bus,” he said.

The police department, Minichini said, is attempting to organize a community forum to address the longstanding issues Academy Street has had with the buses parking there.

AnneMarie Pruznak, 50, who lives on Academy Street and saw the driver present his derriere, said the driver's flashy actions took her by surprise.

“I was shocked,” Pruznak said. “The language and the mooning, and now you’re putting little kids on the bus?”

During the dispute, the driver objects to being filmed. Gasbarro, however, maintains his right to record while in public.

After mooning him, Gasbarro said, the driver grabbed his cellphone. How did Gasbarro get his phone back? “He threw it at me,” Gasbarro said. “Luckily, I caught it, but there is no reason for that.”

While police came to Academy Street on Thursday, Chief Mark Minichini said that since Gasbarro declined to sign a formal complaint, police have made no arrests and have not lodged charges.

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The Rev. Luke Istafanous, of the Coptic church, said the driver's actions are indefensible, but he was quick to note the driver is not employed by his church.

"I can’t defend this," Istafanous said. "This is bad, but he’s not part of the church. He’s a rented driver."

Istafanous said Gasbarro has a history of confronting and videotaping both bus drivers and church congregants parking on Academy Street, who allegedly park in front of driveways there.

"Many people don’t understand why he’s doing this and whether he’s allowed to do this or not, and they would start arguing with each other," Istafanous said.

“The Coptic church’s bus did not belong there,” Gasbarro said. “There was no reason for it to be there, and I had every right to ask it to leave.”

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Istafanous said that following a community meeting the police department held about a year ago, the church notifies residents when buses are going to be on the street. Istafanous said he would be willing to meet with community members again to smooth over tensions.

"If there is anything we can do to help to resolve the gentlemen’s concerns, we would definitely do so," he said. "We’re willing to cooperate with the police department, the authorities by any means. we’re preaching peace."

Email: kadosh@northjersey.com