Palm Coast Student, 13, Arrested After Choke-Holding Girl, Snatching Her Backpack

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Palm Coast, FL - A 13-year-old boy, who is also a student at Indian Trails Middle School in Palm Coast, was arrested on Friday after putting a young girl in a choke-hold and trying to steal her backpack, according to Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO).

FCSO responded to Pine Lakes Apartments on Pine Lakes Parkway in Palm Coast at around 7 AM on Friday after reports that a young boy had a girl in a choke-hold. The boy was described as a black juvenile, about 13 to 16 years old and 4 feet 11 inches, with shoulder-length dreadlocks with gold tips.

The girl told deputies that the boy had been following her and later tried to snatch her backpack, but she was able to retrieve her belongings while calling for help. According to FCSO, the boy ran west between the apartments and the Parkview Baptist Church.

Administrators at Indian Trails Middle School were notified, and a perimeter was set up to search for the boy. School Resource Deputy Sam Cooper found the 13-year-old student at the school at around 7:40 AM. The boy was identified by the victim and a witness and was taken into custody.

"I am thankful that the people who witnessed this incident called 911 quickly and were able to give a good description of the suspect," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly says. "That allowed our school resource deputies to be on the lookout for anyone matching the description, which, in this case, happened very quickly. Everyone from the citizens who called in, to the patrol deputies, to the school resource deputies, did a great job in bringing the kid to justice."

The boy was arrested for robbery of a purse or sudden snatching and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The DJJ declined to hold him and turned him over to his parents, according to FCSO. "This is another disappointing example of DJJ policies being soft on crime," says Staly. "Juveniles need to understand quickly that there are serious consequences for their actions. Otherwise they start a life of crime that often gets more serious."

The boy has also been trespassed from the Pine Lakes Apartments property.

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