A Portland woman was arrested Friday morning after she allegedly chased children from their school bus stop, brandishing a barbecue-style lighter at them.

Vernieri, 31, was arrested after allegedly chasing several children using a barbecue lighter while they were waiting for their school bus.Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Maryann Vernieri, 31, was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct. Portland police officers interviewed several middle-school-aged children, who said that the woman had been chasing people from the school bus stop at Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Boise Street. Two police officers who were working the area saw Vernieri and tried to talk to her. She ran away from them but was quickly arrested.

Police said they believe there were more students that Vernieri chased away before officers arrived.

—Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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