Photo: Volusia County Corrections
A Florida man, Christopher Steven Schwable, 36, was arrested on Tuesday (January 19) after allegedly attacking a child at a school bus stop in DeLand. Schwable, who had been released from jail just days earlier, is accused of choking a juvenile and threatening bystanders with a knife. The incident occurred at the intersection of Clear Lake Drive and North Spring Garden Avenue.
Witnesses reported that Schwable, described by police as a transient, approached a group of children waiting for a bus and assaulted one child. A bystander intervened after seeing the child escape. During the confrontation, Schwable allegedly pulled a folding knife, prompting the bystander to use a toolbox to defend himself and restrain Schwable until police arrived.
The DeLand Police Department confirmed that Schwable faces charges of aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officers found Schwable on the ground with a head injury, and a knife was recovered from his person. The child, a seventh-grade student at Southwestern Middle School, suffered a cut to a finger and was visibly distraught.
The attack has left the child shaken, and his family is concerned about his safety at bus stops. "He was a bit shaken up, but he's still a little better and probably a little bit paranoid," the child's sister, Fernise Fertile, told WESH.
Schwable remains in custody at the Volusia County Jail, with a bond set at $5,000. His first court appearance was postponed due to behavioral issues.