REHOBETH – HOUSTON COUNTY: In 2013 a white male, Jimmy Lee Dykes, entered a Dale County School bus at a bus stop. Upon entering the school bus the white male subject shot and killed Charles ” Chuck ” Polland, the school bus driver and took a 5 year old child, Ethan as hostage.
Other children were able to exit the bus and run. The school bus driver, Charles Polland gave his life protecting the children and was dead on the scene. And Jimmy Lee Dykes carried the 5 year old child into an underground bunker where he was held hostage for six days. Then Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson remained on the scene for the entire six days, with the help and assitance of combined agencies, to include the specialized forces of the FBI. After six days the special forces were able to swiftly enter the underground bunker and rescue the 5 year child, uninjured, and in self defense terminate Jimmy Lee Dykes.
From the inciden,t the Alabama Legislature enacted a law in 2013 known as the Charles ” Chuck” Polland, Jr. Act. That makes it a criminal offense forsomeone entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose.
On Monday, August 25, 2025, a Houston County School bus assigned to Rehobeth, was on the routine route. Reports are a car followed the bus while making several stops. After about the 3rd stop a male subject entered the school bus inquiring who had messed with his children. The bus driver asked him to exit the bus, which he did after a few brief seconds. There are reports about 15 students were on the bus. While the bus driver was speaking with the man some on the bus called 911 and Houston County Sheriff Deputies responded. No one was injured. The incident was on Harden Road in Houston County.
The incident is under investigation and most likely the man will be arrested and placed in the Houston County Jail.
Anyone having issues are to report them to the school or central office. But at no time are they to enter the bus or approach the bus driver. There will be zero tolerance for such acts.
The incident is under investigation by the Houston County School Superintendent and the Houston County Sheriff Department.
Section 13A-7-4.2
Trespass on a school bus in the first degree.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr., Act.
(b) A person commits the crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree if he or she is found guilty of doing any of the following:
(1) Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus.
(2) Entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose, while at a railroad grade crossing, or after being forbidden from doing so by the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(3) As an occupant of a public school bus, refusing to leave the bus on demand of the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(4) Intentionally stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining any public school bus being operated for public school purposes with the intent to commit a crime therein.
(c) The crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) Subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) do not apply to a child who is less than 12 years of age or to authorized school personnel who are boarding the school bus as a part of their job assignment.
