Dad Intentionally Hit Elderly School Volunteer with Car: Deputies

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A 34-year-old father faces aggravated battery charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he intentionally hit an elderly school volunteer with his 2006 Cadillac CTS Tuesday morning.

According to the sheriff’s office, Lawrence Dean Franklin was in the parent drop off loop at Calusa Elementary School, 7520 Orchid Lake Road school, around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 20. Volunteer William Denamen, 79, was assisting in the loop at the time and asked Franklin to move his vehicle into the proper lane, an email from the sheriff’s office said. Not being in the proper lane can “endanger pedestrians during drop off,” the email added.

Franklin, however, refused to comply and is accused of taking his foot off the brake as Denamen stood in front of the vehicle, which weighs more than 3,500 pounds, the agency noted.

When Franklin's foot came off the brake, deputies say Denamen was struck by the Cadillac, which caused minor injury to his leg. His leg was bleeding, the email said, and “Denamen also had a noticeable limp.”

Deputies say Franklin told them he “felt threatened” when Denamen told him to move into the other lane, the email said.

Denamen refused medical treatment.

Franklin now faces a count of aggravated battery with a vehicle on a person over 65 years old.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office