ISSAQUAH, Wash. — An Issaquah School District bus driver has been charged in King County Superior Court with first degree rape of a child and first degree child molestation.
Issaquah police said the victim is an 11-year-old boy who visited the apartment where the suspect lived.
In charging documents, prosecutors identified the suspect as 47-year-old Hakim Fareed.
Fareed's arrest has school officials concerned, and they are going through videos of him behind the wheel of the bus. Officials said they want to take a closer look at his bus route to see if there were any suspicious interactions with students.
"When we first heard about it, of course, it was very shocking and difficult for us," L. Michelle, with the school district, said. "We also started going back through tapes and records."
While Fareed did not meet with the victim on the bus, the allegations were startling.
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"This is a person who had no criminal history," Michelle said. "We still need to go the extra step and see what we can find out."
Fareed had been driving for the district for nearly two years and was fully vetted, KIRO 7 was told.
Police said Fareed also lived with four children, all under the age of 15, who he adopted from another state before moving to Washington. They were removed from his home Monday.
Detectives said it's possible more young victims are out there, and they are working with other law enforcement agencies regarding another possible victim in the state of Ohio. Authorities also said there are no indications or information about any other possible victims outside his family.
"Schools are a microcosm of the greater community. When you have these things that are present in our society, they will show up in schools, as well," Michelle said.
The district placed Fareed on paid administrative leave, which is standard policy.
On Friday, the district provided an additional statement:
The Issaquah School District has learned that one of its bus drivers has been arrested under suspicion of child rape and molestation. According to law enforcement, the allegations of criminal conduct and arrest are not related to any of the driver's work with the District.
Upon receiving information related to the arrest and booking of the driver into jail, the driver was immediately placed on administrative leave and denied access to District transportation, events, and premises. It is the District's understanding that, since his arrest, the driver remains in jail.
While the District has no indication from law enforcement that the allegations leading to the arrest are related to any of the driver's work for the District, we are reaching out directly to the parents or guardians of students who may have been transported by the driver.
Please know that student safety is always our highest priority and the District will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. For more information, please contact L. Michelle, Executive Director of Communications at 425-837-7004.
Cox Media Group
