Winter Springs High School security guard accused of choking student

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A security guard who works at Winter Springs High School was arrested Wednesday after police said he choked a student.

A school resource officer at the school saw Deron Smiley, 44, get in to an argument with the student before grabbing the student and throwing him to the ground and choking him, police said.

"He came and he asked where we were going, and I said, ‘We were going to class," said the student.

The high school freshman said the security guard followed him.

"I said something to the boy who was watching, and I turned around, and he was like choking me," he said.

Witnesses said Smiley threatened to throw the student over a second-story railing.

"I send my son to school to learn, not to be abused by a staff member at school," said his mother, Theresa Burke. "I'm not happy about that at all."

Burke said she received a call and headed straight to the school.

"I haven't gotten an apology or anything at all. They just kept telling me that they're going to handle it on their end," she said.

Seminole County Public Schools said Smiley will be fired.

"I wasn't scared. I just wasn't going to put my hands on him," said the student.

Smiley is also employed as a girls basketball coach. It’s unclear for which school he coaches.

Police said during their investigation, they found firearms in Smiley’s vehicle in the school parking lot, which is a violation of state law.

Smiley has been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, battery and possession of firearms on school property.

Cox Media Group