Posted on 01/26/2006 9:44:42 AM PST by RightResponse
TAMPA -- An angry father who marched into a classroom and punched a teacher's assistant in the face said Wednesday he was protecting his 15-year-old daughter, who had accused the man of inappropriately touching her.
Dave F. Swafford, 42, was charged with felony battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide in front of a class full of students at Lakewood Ranch High School near Bradenton Tuesday morning, authorities said. He was also named ``Father of the Year'' by a local radio station for his actions.
``I'm not real proud of what I did,'' Swafford told The Associated Press Wednesday. ``You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me.''
Because of the allegation, the school placed the assistant on paid leave Tuesday, school district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said. He has not been charged, but Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow said deputies are investigating.
The man has been employed by the Manatee County school district since 1999 and has a clean personnel record, Nanney said. His primary job is ``time-out'' teacher, overseeing in-school suspension. His name is being withheld by the AP because he has not been charged.
Swafford, the part owner of an air conditioning company, said he came to the school to meet with officials about allegations made by his daughter and other female students about the assistant's inappropriate touching and conduct. When he saw that the man was not in the meeting, he asked his daughter to take him to the classroom.
``I wanted to know why the guy was in a classroom teaching after my daughter came forward,'' he said.
A verbal exchange became heated, and ``I lost control,'' he said. He spent about 10 hours in jail and got out later Tuesday after posting bond.
The Tampa radio station that named him ``Father of the Year'' offered him and his family tickets for the Daytona 500 race.
``If some other parents would do this, maybe some of these pedophiles would crawl back under rocks where they belong,'' Swafford said.
Gotta love the 'Father of the Year' award...
I hope that is the case, because if it is not, the guy he hit will be in for some big $$$.
I strongly suggest that this guy demand a jury trial if charged with a crime. As a juror, I would be hard pressed to convict him with the information I currently know.
If only some of the fathers of the women that BJ Klintoon 'touched' did the same thing!
LOL!
ML/NJ
Only thing is I hope the girl isn't making it up. That happens some times when kids want attention and what not. Teacher should be given a trial first then punch his face!!
Part of what makes the US special is the ability of Americans to take matters head-on and understand those who do. This thing might've been handled very differently (with care and sensitivity) were it happening in Holland or Belgium, for example...
What happened to yesterday's thread on this topic?
You don't know squat.
This story was posted yesterday and I'll say it again.
This is a REAL Father and a REAL man. It is good that he did this in front of the other teens...in the class. A fantastic lesson has been taught.
A REAL Father will BEAT DOWN anyone that brings harm to his kids and family. Take note teen boys....Better choose your actions wisely. You may not fear the law....but you BETTER fear a REAL FATHER.
Is he hot?
I would not march into school. I would have found him alone on the street. Then you show him the tools of baseball.
" ``I'm not real proud of what I did,'' Swafford told The Associated Press Wednesday. ``You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me.'' "
I'm proud of what this guy did. God Bless him.
I saw an interview this morning on our local Fox station. The father said he went into the room to confront the assistant. The father said when he told the assistant who he was, the assistant leaned back in his chair and smiled, like he knew what the father was there for. After that, boom boom, out go the lights.
I bet you miss those old lynching days.
No, I miss the days when Men were Men and not FORCED to act like women.
"You don't know squat."
You know, that may or may not be true, but it's impossible for you to know that. Yet, you feel free to make such an accusation. Ironic.
My Bad! I was on all yesterday, and didn't see it. Should've searched.
Tell that to the Coppell, TX teenager who accused her teacher of raping her because he gave her a 'C' and ruined her GPA.
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