An Eustis man is facing multiple charges after a series of harrowing incidents on Friday morning that officials say put the lives of several children at risk near a bus stop in Lake County. According to ClickOrlando, Arthur James Young, 59, purportedly tried to run his truck over three middle-school-age children and later attacked a girl walking to her bus stop.
As recounted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the incident began around 8:30 a.m. when Young allegedly used his pickup truck in an attempt to run over children at a bus stop on Mills Street. A 911 caller intervened, prompting Young to flee, but shortly after, near Church Street, Young exited his vehicle, grabbed a girl, and tried to choke her.
The alarming situation was defused by the intervention of other residents in the area, with one firing warning shots to thwart the assault. "The immediate and heroic actions of the complainant and other residents in the area likely saved lives and allowed responding law enforcement personnel to apprehend Young within minutes of the initial call being received," the sheriff’s office cited in their statement, as reported by ClickOrlando.
Young was detained and transported to AdventHealth Waterman for evaluation following the events. FOX 35 Orlando reported that he now faces serious charges that include aggravated assault, child abuse, and kidnapping and will be held at the Lake County Detention Center upon clearance from the hospital. The ongoing nature of the investigation means that authorities may be looking into additional aspects of the case.
