DAVENPORT, Fla. – A Polk County woman faces multiple charges after allegedly boarding a school bus, verbally assaulting a student and the driver, and later causing a scene in the front office of a high school. The incident, which caused a school bus delay of nearly an hour, led to the arrest of Latanya Rowe, 48, on Monday morning, October 27, 2025.
The disruption began as a Polk County Public Schools bus stopped to pick up students for Davenport High School. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Rowe entered the bus and immediately began yelling and cursing at a male student. The verbal assault concerned a physical altercation that occurred on the bus on the previous Friday, October 24, between the victim, Rowe’s son, and Rowe’s daughter.
The victim recorded the incident as Rowe directed profanities and threats at him. She also cursed at the bus driver, accusing him of failing to “handl[e] the situation.” The bus driver’s order for Rowe to leave was initially refused. Rowe only departed after being told law enforcement would be contacted. Her actions reportedly delayed the bus by approximately 50 minutes.
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After deputies arrived at Rowe’s home and she informed them via her Ring camera that she was at the high school, two school resource deputies responded to the school’s front office. There, they found Rowe “cursing, yelling, and causing a disturbance.”
When deputies attempted to take her into custody, Rowe allegedly resisted arrest. Her daughter, who was nearby, repeatedly refused deputies’ commands to step back and stated she also wanted to go to jail. The daughter was subsequently taken into custody for violating the “Halo law” after warnings, and resisting arrest.
The Preceding Altercation
Deputies investigating the original dispute learned through witnesses that Rowe’s son had been bullying the victim for a week and calling him racial slurs.
On Friday afternoon, when the three students exited the bus, the victim attempted to speak with Rowe’s children. At that point, both the brother and sister allegedly punched the victim. The victim fought back until another student intervened and separated the parties.
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd addressed the situation, noting the “irony” of Rowe’s actions.
“The irony of this situation is that this woman’s two children were found to be the aggressors in a fight that took place on Friday, yet she was screaming at the victim and accusing the victim of hurting her kids,” Sheriff Judd stated. “The victim’s parents declined to press charges and preferred that the school handle that internally, but we are moving forward with charging this mother for her criminal conduct. You cannot go onto a school bus or onto school property and cause a disturbance – schools are meant to be safe places where children learn.”
Rowe was charged with:
- Disrupting a school function (M2)
- Trespassing on school grounds (M2)
- Disorderly conduct (M2)
- Resisting arrest (M1)
She was released after posting a $1,750 bond.
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