Police say a 36-year-old man grabbed a 13-year-old and brandished a knife before a motorist intervened and restrained him.
DELAND, FL — A passerby jumped from his truck, hit a man with a toolbox and pinned him to the ground Tuesday morning after the man allegedly grabbed a 13-year-old waiting for a school bus in DeLand, according to police who arrested the suspect minutes later.
Authorities identified the suspect as Christopher Steven Schwable, 36, of Pierson. He faces aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. The episode unfolded on a residential corner where students gather for the morning route and was partly captured on security video, police said. The boy broke free and ran while the passerby confronted the attacker, then restrained him until officers arrived. The incident has sparked questions about supervision at bus stops, the suspect’s recent release from jail and what steps officials will take next as the case moves into court.
Police said the confrontation began shortly after sunrise Tuesday when the teen stood at his usual stop with his backpack. According to an initial account, the boy waved at a man nearby, who then approached, grabbed him by the neck and threatened him with a knife. A motorist driving past saw the struggle, made a quick U-turn and jumped out with a toolbox from his cab. Video from the area shows the passerby closing the distance and taking the man to the pavement. “I wasn’t going to let him punch and stab a kid,” the man told a 911 dispatcher, adding that the suspect “put up a fight” and was bleeding as he was held on the ground. Within minutes, patrol units arrived and recovered a folding knife, officers said.
The boy’s older sister, Fernise Fertil, said her brother had left their home for school only moments earlier when the attack began. She said he told her the man “came out of nowhere” and squeezed his neck before pulling a blade. Neighbors who heard shouting stepped outside as the passerby wrestled the knife away. Police described the weapon as a folding knife taken from the suspect’s pocket. Officers said the teen ran to a safe distance while the bystander held the man face down until they could secure handcuffs. No significant injuries to the child were reported as of Wednesday, though medics evaluated him at the scene. The good Samaritan declined medical transport, according to the initial call notes. Investigators took statements from several witnesses who watched from driveways and porches.
Records show Schwable had been released from jail days before the incident on unrelated matters. Police said their detectives are reviewing his recent court history and any open cases that might intersect with the DeLand arrest. Officers booked him into the Volusia County Branch Jail after questioning. The suspect is listed as 36 and living in Pierson, a small town northwest of DeLand. Investigators said they have not determined a motive and described the encounter as random based on what they know so far. The security video, which begins after the initial grab, shows the bystander pinning a man and holding a knife apart from him while calling for officers, according to police descriptions. Detectives are also evaluating 911 recordings and canvassing the bus stop area for additional doorbell cameras that may show the moment the teen was first confronted.
The bus stop sits along a two-lane street bordered by single-family homes and fenced yards, a common setup in this part of Volusia County. Nearby residents said children from several blocks wait there each school day around 7 a.m. Parents in the area said they recognized the passerby from local construction jobs and lawn work and called him a “lifesaver” for moving quickly. “He didn’t think twice,” one neighbor said, recalling how he parked at the curb and ran directly toward the struggle. Police said the bystander’s actions allowed the child to get away from immediate danger before officers arrived. A department spokesperson praised the restraint used at the scene, noting that the knife was separated from the suspect and no shots were fired.
DeLand police said they are preparing a full case file that will include the teen’s statement, the sister’s account, witness notes, the recovered knife, video clips and the 911 audio. Prosecutors will review those materials to confirm the charging decisions and determine whether to add counts related to attempted kidnapping or battery. As of Thursday morning, no additional charges had been announced. Jail records showed Schwable in custody pending a first appearance. A judge is expected to consider bond conditions that could include no contact with the victim, a stay-away order from the bus stop and possession restrictions related to weapons. Officials said they would provide an update once the court filing is complete and the timeline for hearings is set.
School district officials said they are coordinating with police and transportation staff to confirm when the route resumed service and whether the stop location or supervision plans need adjustments. Buses continued to run on schedule later that morning, according to neighbors, after officers cleared the scene and tape came down. Parents gathered outside homes along the block in small groups, sharing video clips and checking in on the teen and his family. One father said he planned to walk his children to the corner the rest of the week. Another neighbor said the bystander stayed until officers collected the knife and drove away with the suspect, then quietly left without giving his name to residents who thanked him.
Volusia County has seen scattered reports of confrontations at bus stops in recent years, though few escalate to a weapon being displayed. Police said Tuesday’s incident stood out because it unfolded in plain view of several homes during a routine morning. The DeLand department noted that calls for service in the neighborhood are typically low and mostly limited to noise and traffic concerns. The family of the teen said he is a seventh grader who normally walks with a small group. He was kept home the rest of the day and spoke with officers at length. The sister said the family is grateful for the quick response and for the passerby who stepped in. “He saved my brother,” she said.
Detectives plan to finish interviews this week and submit evidence to prosecutors for formal filing. A first appearance hearing is expected within 24 hours of booking, followed by an arraignment date. If charges move forward as filed, the case would proceed to discovery and pretrial motions. Police said they will also evaluate whether state victim assistance resources apply to the boy and his family. Any decision on additional counts or mental health evaluations for the suspect would come from the State Attorney’s Office after reviewing the police report, jail records and the 911 calls. Officials said they are checking for any outstanding warrants or probation terms that may affect the suspect’s status.
By late Thursday, the suspect remained in the county jail while prosecutors reviewed the file, and the bus stop had returned to its usual routine. Police said they expect to release a short update when a first appearance hearing is set and when investigators finish collecting video from nearby homes.
Author note: Last updated January 23, 2026.