A routine evening in a Port Orange neighborhood turned into a criminal case Tuesday night when deputies say a 69-year-old homeowners association president shoved a 12-year-old boy to the ground and drove off with the child's bicycle. Authorities identified the man as Paul Holmes, who was arrested on child abuse and petit theft charges and released on bond Wednesday evening. The confrontation unfolded near a community clubhouse on Country Club Drive, according to local authorities.
Deputies' account
According to WKMG/ClickOrlando, deputies were called to Country Club Drive around 8 p.m. and met the boy and his grandfather. The affidavit states the child had been riding his bike near the clubhouse before stopping and sitting near the tennis courts.
The boy told investigators he raised his middle finger, and Holmes then walked over, pushed him to the ground, and took his bicycle, placing it in his own vehicle, the report says. Deputies wrote that Holmes initially refused to give back the bike, but eventually returned it. He was then arrested on child abuse and petit theft charges.
Per the affidavit, the boy said Holmes shouted, "Do you know who I am? I'm the president of the HOA" during the encounter. Holmes later told deputies he was trying to keep juveniles from gathering at the clubhouse when it is closed and denied intentionally placing his hands on the child, according to the report. Booking information included with the affidavit lists Holmes as 69 and notes he was released on bond the following evening, per WKMG/ClickOrlando.
Charges and legal context
Under Florida law, child abuse includes intentional acts that could reasonably be expected to cause physical or mental injury to someone under 18, and a person who knowingly or willfully abuses a child can face felony charges, per Florida Statutes section 827.03. The state’s theft law defines petit theft and the value thresholds that determine whether a theft is treated as a misdemeanor or a felony, with penalties that vary by amount and other factors, as outlined in Florida Statutes section 812.014.
HOA role
Public meeting materials for the Spruce Creek Property Owners Association list Paul Holmes as the association’s president and tie him to the Port Orange fly-in community’s board, according to the group’s Spruce Creek Property Owners Association. The document lists the POA hangar address and includes “President 6 Paul Holmes” under board reports.
Holmes was released on bond, and the case now moves to prosecutors in Volusia County, where court filings will detail any upcoming hearings. The arrest affidavit referenced in the initial report forms the basis for the charges deputies say they investigated.
