Joe Malinconico

Paterson Press

PATERSON – A school bus driver is accused of dropping off eight city students armed with crowbars and other weapons so they could beat up a teenage boy who they thought had thrown something that broke a bus window three days earlier, police said Friday.

After the eight teenagers assaulted a 15-year-old student outside the bus, police said, the driver picked them up a block away and continued on his route, taking the attackers home.

The incident happened in the afternoon on Dec. 5 near Preakness and Totowa avenues, near John F. Kennedy High School, police said. Authorities made arrests this week.

The driver, 43-year-old Gilberto Lorenzo of Palisades Park, was apprehended Wednesday and charged with numerous crimes, including child endangerment, using a minor to commit a criminal act, aggravated assault, conspiracy and weapons possession.

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The eight teenagers – all students at Paterson’s Great Falls Academy alternative high school – also were arrested on many of the same charges and taken to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark, police said.

Authorities said it turned out that the boy who was beaten had nothing to do with the window-breaking incident. He was treated at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center for cuts and bruises but was not hospitalized, police said.

Authorities said they are not sure exactly what was thrown at the bus, only that it smashed one of the windows.

Lt. Jamie Navarro of the Paterson Police Juvenile Division said the driver and the eight teenagers, who were regular passengers on his route, had planned the revenge attack. But Navarro said it was not clear whose idea it had been.

Lorenzo worked for a private company, Best School Bus Inc. of Lodi, and city education officials said the district has canceled the contract as a result of the incident. The students on the bus route were added to a separate transportation contract for Great Falls Academy, officials said.

The case was investigated by Detective Cindy Carrera of the juvenile division. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact Carrera at 973-321-1126.