Police: Lynnfield bus driver asked cheerleaders to flash him

LYNNFIELD – A town school bus driver with a 23-year spotless record has been suspended after Leominster cheerleaders Sunday claimed William Diamond offered them $40 if they would lift up their shirts.
They made the allegation to police who filed an accosting complaint against Diamond. He will be summonsed into Lowell District Court for a magistrate?s hearing to determine if charges should be filed against the 56-year-old Danvers resident.
Diamond drove Lynnfield cheerleaders to a competition in Lowell Sunday afternoon. At about 2:30, adult event coordinators told Lowell police officers working at the competition that Leominster cheerleaders complained about a remark Diamond made to them.
?Three Leominster cheerleaders said he was leering at them as they walked by him. He stuck out his tongue and told them, ?Lift up your shirt and I?ll give you $40,?” said Lowell Police Capt. Randall Humphrey.
Humphrey said the police report on the incident does not mention any response Diamond made to the accusations. Attempts to reach Diamond Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Humphrey said he told police “he liked the Leominster squad?s tops because they have the word Devil on them and that was his nickname when he was younger.”
Lynnfield School Superintendent Robert Hassett and town officials determined Lynnfield cheerleaders? parents, many of whom were attending the competition, should drive the cheerleaders home. Diamond drove the town bus back to Lynnfield.
Hassett said Town Manager William Gustus will investigate the allegations against Diamond who is classified as a town public works employee.
The allegations surprised Hassett and Police Chief Paul Romano who was not completely familiar Tuesday morning with details of the accusations.
?He?s driven thousands and thousands of kids. I?m extremely surprised,” Romano said.