PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a 10-year-old was arrested on Thursday for bringing a pocket knife to their elementary school and threatening another student.
The agency said the child is facing a third-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
Deputies did not indicate the child’s gender.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at Browning Pearce Elementary, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies added that the child was arrested on Thursday but released to a parent.
“I want to remind everyone we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to weapons and threats on our school campuses,” Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said. “I am happy to report that many of our students have taken us seriously, and we started this school year quite successfully. Students are in school to learn, and we will continue to provide a safe environment for them, staff, faculty, parents and visitors.”
News4JAX was able to speak with Putnam County Maj. David Ussery about the arrest just as it was happening. He said that, as a parent, he could not imagine an incident like this happening with his child.
“Take law enforcement out of it...As parents, we got to do a better job,” he said. “Where are the parents? That’s what I want to know. This is disheartening for us to put handcuffs on a 10-year-old child because somebody, somewhere made a mistake.”
The deputy’s full comments can be watched below: