Mainland High student arrested over presidential threat

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A 15-year-old Mainland High School student was arrested Friday, Oct. 30, after police say she typed “how to kill the president” followed by “im just kidding” in a school-issued Microsoft OneDrive account.

The writing triggered a school monitoring alert on the same day President Donald Trump was expected to arrive in Daytona Beach, according to a Daytona Beach Police Department arrest affidavit.

The student faces two felony charges and one misdemeanor stemming from the alleged threat and a subsequent struggle with a school resource officer.

School alert prompted investigation

According to the affidavit, Mainland Principal Melissa Fraine contacted school resource officer Daniel Peralta after the school received an alert from Gaggle, a monitoring program the affidavit describes as flagging potential violence or danger involving school electronic devices.

Police said the student’s writing alerted multiple school district staff members and law enforcement agencies. In the affidavit, Peralta cited the timing of Trump’s anticipated visit and interpreted the follow-up phrase “im just kidding” as evidence the student understood the original words would be viewed as a threat.

That interpretation is the officer’s allegation, not a court finding.

Officer describes struggle during detention

Peralta wrote that the student tried to leave his office when he attempted to detain her, then kicked and swung her arms to avoid being handcuffed. He said he held her in a bear hug and took her to the floor, where she continued to resist by lying on her arms.

A school guardian helped place her in handcuffs, according to the affidavit.

During the struggle, Peralta’s department-issued Taser broke free from its holder, leaving him unable to use it, he wrote. The narrative does not say the student took possession of the Taser.

The student’s guardian was notified and told police the teenager did not have access to weapons at home, according to the affidavit. Police said the student was taken to the Family Resource Center after her arrest.