Updated Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. with information about prior complaint from parent

A man who is accused of walking onto a Collinsville school bus Monday morning and threatening a 6-year-old boy with a belt if the boy did not stop bullying his daughter was charged with assault and battery Monday.

Malvain Crain, 33, of Granite City, turned himself into Collinsville Police Monday afternoon following an investigation by the Collinsville Police Department. Witnesses reported that Crain boarded the bus at the intersection of Johnson Hill Road and Skyline View Drive at about 7:15 a.m. and confronted the boy.

After allegedly grabbing the 6-year-old by the jacket, Crain reportedly pulled a belt out and threatened to hit the child if he did not stop bullying Crain’s daughter. The bus driver and bus monitor confronted Crain and ordered him off the bus, Collinsville Police said.

Crain left the bus without further incident. He was charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault and battery. Crain posted bond and was released.

Collinsville Unit 10 Superintendent Bob Green said Crain’s wife had complained to he school principal last week about possible bullying by the boy. The principal addressed the situation with the children and informed the mother, Green said. The principal believed the situation was over.

Crain, however, arrived at the school early Monday morning and began milling around. Someone noticed Crain and, after speaking with him, asked that he see the principal, Green said. The principal addressed the bullying complaint with Crain, informing him of how the situation had been handled. After Crain left, however, he went to the bus stop, where the incident occurred.

Green commended the bus monitor and bus driver for how they handled the situation.

“They got the guy stopped and got him off the bus,” Green said. “They made sure the kids were safe.”