An HISD school bus stop near a sex offender’s home has some parents in a southwest Houston neighborhood on edge.
A property owner in the area reached out to the Click 2 Houston Help Desk after many of his tenants voiced their safety concerns.
He said the bus stop is near the intersection of Gatewood Avenue and Ingomar Way. Records show that is roughly less than 100 feet from the sex offender’s home.
“It just makes everybody leery. They’re not mad at him. He’s in compliance. He’s telling the police where he lives, but they don’t want to put their kids on the bus right here,” said the Property owner.
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The neighbors are asking that the bus stop be moved to a different intersection down the street.
KPRC 2 searched The Texas Department of Public Safety’s sex offender website and found that there are 214 registered sex offenders within a 2.8-mile radius of the school bus stop.
“I think it’s important for other families to look at their bus stop, because if it’s happening here, it’s got to be happening somewhere else in the city as well,” said the Property Owner.
HISD responded to KPRC 2’s request for comment and said the district is aware of the issue and is looking into it. They said safety is HISD’s top priority and they encourage people to reach out to HPD or the school district and their bus driver if they have any concerns.
According to Crime Stoppers, the registered sex offender near the bus stop served his sentence, finished his probation and has been meeting registration requirements. If a sex offender is not on parole or probation, they can live wherever they want.
The district said anytime a bus driver sees anything concerning, they are encouraged to HPD and district authorities. HISD said when a bus stop is determined, safety and convenience are at the forefront.
KPRC 2’s Corley Peel will have more on this story on KPRC 2 News at 5 and 6 p.m.