RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A U.S. Coast Guard officer was arrested at a high school in Hillsborough County after he reportedly refused to leave the campus and even kicked a school resource deputy, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
The altercation happened shortly before 1 p.m. Monday at Spoto High School in Riverview. The sheriff's office says school resource deputies were called by administrators to the administrative office to help them after things escalated with "agitated parents" who were at the school because their daughter was in a "mutual altercation" earlier in the day.
The agency said that despite multiple requests to leave the school campus, 41-year-old Jeremy Bailey "remained verbally hostile throughout the interaction," resulting in his arrest. Bailey is reportedly an active duty Petty Officer First Class with the U.S. Coast Guard.
As he was being arrested, deputies say Bailey became "increasingly" upset and continued to be disruptive, even kicking one of the school resource deputies and using "profane and derogatory language."
Baily reportedly faces multiple charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, trespassing on school grounds, disrupting a school campus or function and resisting an officer without violence.
"Parents are supposed to model behavior and be an example for children, and Bailey was a perfect example of what not to do. Schools are meant to be a safe space for both students and administrators, and it is disheartening to know a parent disrupted the educational process today by his shameful outburst," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "I have to take a moment to thank school administrators and the school resource deputy for their patience and professionalism when faced with violence and hostility."