Man arrested after attempting to run over kids and attacking teen at Lake County bus stop

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Updated  November 22, 2024 10:52pm EST
FOX 35 Orlando
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Man attempted to run over kids, deputies say

A Eustis man was arrested Friday morning after allegedly attempting to run over children at a bus stop and later attacking a middle school student, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A Eustis man was arrested Friday morning after allegedly attempting to run over children at a bus stop and later attacking a middle school student, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Arthur James Young, 59, is accused of driving his black Dodge Ram Pickup toward three juveniles waiting at a bus stop on Mills Street around 8:30 a.m. 

Young then encountered a female middle school student walking to a bus stop near Church Street, according to deputies. 

He allegedly exited his vehicle, grabbed the teen, and attempted to choke her. 

Residents in the area came to the girl’s aid, with one firing two warning shots to stop the attack.

"They were just running for their lives," said Vivian Little, a mother of one of the children at the bus stop, Akeem, whom she said her son was traumatized by the whole event. "He cried. All the kids were out here boohoo crying."

Susan Thayer was at the bus stop to drop off her grandson and saw it escalate.

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"The kids were walking away, and then the man got in his truck, started it up, and spit gravel coming at them. He was going at them, meaning to hit them. There was no braking or anything," Thayer said. "I pushed the two buttons to open my side doors and had the kids jump in, because I figured any barrier between him and the kids was something."

Despite multiple attempts, Young missed the group of children. The children were unharmed, authorities said, thanks to a bystander who intervened and prompted Young to flee.

"This could've gone way worse than what it did. They took it upon themselves to protect these children until law enforcement got on scene. We can't say enough good things about how they handled this," said Lt. John Herrell of the sheriff’s office.

Young was taken into custody and transported to AdventHealth Waterman for evaluation. 

He faces charges of aggravated assault, child abuse, and kidnapping.

Authorities say Young will be booked into the Lake County Detention Center after he is cleared from the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing.

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