A 36-year-old man, Christopher Steven Schwable, was arrested in DeLand, Florida, after witnesses say he grabbed a seventh-grade boy by the throat and then threatened bystanders with a folding knife at a school bus stop. Good Samaritans intervened — one used a toolbox to strike and restrain the suspect until police arrived. The child sustained a cut to a finger; Schwable was treated for a head injury, booked on a $5,000 bond and charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Good Samaritans Stop Alleged Knife Attack On Seventh-Grader At DeLand Bus Stop
Christopher Steven Schwable, 36, of Pierson, Florida, was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault.(Fox News)
A 36-year-old man in DeLand, Florida, was arrested after witnesses say he grabbed a seventh-grade boy by the throat and later threatened bystanders with a folding knife at a school bus stop. The confrontation was ended by Good Samaritans who restrained the suspect until police arrived, authorities said.
Arrest and Allegations
The DeLand Police Department arrested Christopher Steven Schwable, 36, after multiple witnesses reported that he seized a juvenile by the throat and then produced a folding knife during a confrontation with adults who intervened, according to FOX 35 Orlando. The arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 35 states officers found Schwable on the ground with a head injury and recovered a knife beneath him.
School buses seen in a parking lot.
What Witnesses Say
Witness accounts say Schwable approached a group of children waiting for a school bus and assaulted one child. An adult nearby intervened after seeing the child break free. During the confrontation, Schwable allegedly slid a knife from his sleeve and brandished it toward others.
One witness who intervened told police he was driving by, made a U-turn when he saw the suspect choking the boy, and — fearing for the child’s safety — used his toolbox to subdue Schwable. The witness said he struck Schwable twice in what he described as self-defense when Schwable raised the knife, then held him down until officers arrived.
Injuries and Charges
According to records, Christopher Schwable was arrested in December 2025 on charges of indecent exposure and possession of drug paraphernalia. He spent more than three weeks in jail before his release on Jan. 13.
The child suffered a cut to a finger and was visibly distressed; school officials confirmed he is a seventh-grade student at Southwestern Middle School. Schwable was transported to a hospital for treatment of a head injury and was later booked into jail on a $5,000 bond. He faces charges of aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and remains in custody while the investigation continues.
Jail and court records reviewed by FOX 35 show Schwable had been released from custody on Jan. 13 after prosecutors dropped unrelated charges, including indecent exposure and possession of drug paraphernalia, following about three weeks in jail. Officials also described Schwable as currently homeless. Authorities have not said whether Schwable knew the child.
Source: FOX 35 Orlando; DeLand Police Department arrest affidavit.
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