Florida Man Arrested for Attacking Child at School Bus Stop

A man in Florida, who had just been released from prison, is now facing serious charges after allegedly attacking a child at a school bus stop. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, saw 36-year-old Christopher Stephen Schwable accused of strangling a boy and threatening bystanders with a knife. Fortunately, some quick-thinking witnesses intervened before police arrived, authorities stated.

According to the DeLand Police Department, multiple witnesses reported that Schwable had grabbed the child by the throat during a confrontation with adults who had stepped in to help. During this altercation, he reportedly pulled out a folding knife, prompting one bystander to hit him with a toolbox. This action helped restrain him until the officers arrived at the scene.

Witnesses indicated that Schwable had approached a group of children waiting for the bus and assaulted one of them. A concerned adult, seeing the child in distress, quickly intervened, fearing for his safety. This bystander made a U-turn in their vehicle to help, not fully aware of whether Schwable was armed.

When law enforcement arrived, they found Schwable with a head injury on the ground and discovered a knife beneath him. The boy, who is a seventh-grade student at Southwestern Middle School, had a cut on his finger and appeared visibly shaken.

It was noted that the witness had hit Schwable out of self-defense after he brandished a significant knife. After being taken to the hospital for treatment, Schwable was booked into jail with a bail set at $5,000. He faces charges of aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities revealed that he is currently homeless.

Interestingly, records show that Schwable had been arrested in December for unrelated charges, including lewd acts and possession of drug paraphernalia, and spent over three weeks in jail before his recent release on January 13. Prosecutors later dropped those charges.

As of now, authorities have not clarified if Schwable had any prior connection to the child involved in this disturbing incident. He remains in custody as the investigation unfolds.