Man arrested, accused of throwing metal object at Special Olympics kids

A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and committing a hate crime after he allegedly threw a metal bolt at participants running in the Special Olympics Torch Run in Valencia, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Deputies from the sheriff’s Santa Clarita station were running with the children in the torch run at about 3:25 p.m. at the intersection of McBean Parkway and Arroyo Park Drive when a man inside a vehicle began yelling at the children to get off the road, using a derogatory term regarding their sexual orientation, sheriff's officials said in a statement.

The man, identified as David Robert Schwartz, allegedly threw the bolt at the children, which came close to two of them. Schwartz was taken into custody a short time later. Schwartz was being held at the Santa Clarita jail in lieu of a $50,000 bail.

-- Ruben Vives

Comments

[Fredo]

Another methamphetamine user.

[Nic]

I'm not really for the special Olympics myself but everyone need something special to look up 2. Why is this jackass wrecking other peoples moment of fame has to be a mental problem with himself.

[Suzanne Vohs]

I am sickened to learn of yet another attack on a group of innocents that try, on a daily basis, to get through their lives against some pretty rough circumstances. Please help educate our citizens of regarding the valiant struggle these citizens have to go through just to do things the average citizen takes for granted.

[JD Brewer]

I am stunned. I say break off one of his legs so he can see what it is like to be physically challenged. What a loser. Those are some of the most adorable kids anywhere. Pig man he is!!! I am sure he does his mother proud.

[Steve M.]

Granted the guy is a reprobate, the alleged crime does not warrant the charge or the amount for bail. This wasn't a firearm, knife or nunchuck.

This is a clear case of overkill by the arresting authorities. He should have been charged with littering, cited and released.

[Chuck]

Sounds like a nice enough guy... I bet he would get along well with Neil Leeds!

[Steve K]

Steve M: You gotta be kidding right? Littering? The man threw a metal bolt at the kids and you want to charge him for littering?

[Centaur Kid]

what a class act, throw the book at him. takes a real "big" man to attack a group of children.

[David]

Steve M, what if these were YOUR children that idiot

was "throwing a steel bolt at and yelling at the children to get off the road, using a derogatory term regarding their sexual orientation."

These were innocent children minding their own business.

Yea, lets let idiots like this pig roam our streets.

Hope to find you on the street one day so i can just get a littering ticket and letted go.......

[lookatthebigpicture]

Steve M., the intent of the man appears to have been to at least scare the participants and maybe even injure them. Intent is the key factor here and is why he was arrested for ADW. The court and/or jury (if it even goes that far) will make the final decision, not the police.

[Informed]

To Steve M.: Learn the law before making accusations. 23110 of the Vehicle Code makes it a felony to "maliciously" throw items from a vehicle, especially metal. So the real probably is it looks like they forgot to add a felony!

[Disgusted Dan]

Wow, I can't believe the stupidity of this individual. This was clearly a case of assault. This guy should be heavily fined and ordered to both attend sensitivity classes and to several hundred hours volunteering with the Special Olympics.

[Frank]

Could it be he just thought they were trying to make his day more complex? I try to throw things at people who prohibit me from being great. Maybe he can join some jail-house softball team.

[KatieF]

"This guy should be heavily fined and ordered to both attend sensitivity classes and to several hundred hours volunteering with the Special Olympics."

I don't think having this guy around special needs kids is smart. It's completely unrealistic to think that sensitivity classes will magically open this guys eyes to the error of his ways, and he'll turn into a loving individual and a dedicated Special Olympics volunteer. He needs to volunteer picking up trash by the side of the road.

[PDuff]

Couldn't he have just donated some money like everyone else?

[Da Maverick]

What a jerk. His truck should be impounded and made to take the bus.

[fred]

I hope I never do anything so stupid as to end up in a newspaper article as a result. Then again, maybe he is qualified to be a Special Olympics participant and was just trying out for the javelin throw.

[JDV]

Let him cool his jets in the slammer for a few days, and pay a HUGE fine. idiot. could he not even see there were police present?? or is he so special he thought they'd let him get away with it?? p o s! ppl need to lear how to behave!!

[Marisa]

I was running this when this guy did the hate crime. He almost hit me and my coach. He called us an derogatory word and flipped us off and threw a built at us. That guy deserves to be in jail.

[Ken]

He yelled a derogatory term regarding their sexual orientation.
For this alone, he should be locked up forever. Rot in hell you homophobe!!

[Tony]

I saw a tall handsome man berate a mentally Handicapped man for ten minutes pushing me away when I tried to break it up. That was inside the UCHastings Law school bookstore and the guy was a third year law student. There are people who get off looking down on Mentally challenged people.

[MORE Informed]

To "Informed" - Indeed people SHOULD learn the law before trying to teach others, as Vehicle Code 23110, part of Division 11, Chapter 12, Article 1 states it is a misdemeanor to throw items AT a vehicle, not from it.

Have a great day.