AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Tony Patillo, one of the Tiger Transit bus drivers arrested on rape charges earlier this week, was always welcoming to students that got on his bus, says Auburn sophomore Carlee Coleman.
Coleman rode his bus regularly and said she never felt unsafe.
"He always was cheery, he made you feel safe and he talked a lot about his family or would ask me about my day at school."
She even took selfies with Patillo to send to her mom to prove she was getting home safely.
Now, Coleman feels lucky to have not been a victim and is encouraging others to educate one another. "I hope to remove the idea of rapists as media portrays them and to show that just because someone is a seemingly 'nice person' like Patillo was, it doesn't mean they are not capable of horrible actions."
