Suspect accused of hit-and-runs, pointing gun at people before trying to board a school bus

Reporter: Breana Ross Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:
David Michael Adler, 31. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Thursday, a man is accused of crashing into multiple cars, pointing a gun at people and trying to get into the cars of parents at a child-pickup line. This is all before he’s accused of attempting to get onto a school bus full of kids.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested David Michael Adler, 31 after deputies responded to Cypress Lake Drive and Winkler Road for a call about a reckless driver who crashed into several cars before fleeing.

While deputies were en route, 911 dispatch said they had more calls from drivers in the area saying a man was armed and walking in the street.

David Michael Adler, 31. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

School resource deputies at Cypress Lake Middle School placed the school on a precautionary lockout for the safety of students.

Deputies found and arrested the suspect, later identified as Adler.

LCSO said in a statement, Adler committed a series of criminal offenses.

No children were hurt during the entirety of the incident.

While Adler was walking in the street, he pointed a gun at a driver, putting the victim in fear for their life, LCSO added.

Adler continued walking to Bright Beginnings Early School, where deputies learned he harassed parents waiting in the car line and demanded they give him their car.

When parents refused, Adler began banging on the doors of a school bus, according to LCSO.

A school district spokesman said Adler banged on the door multiple times and tried prying it open, but was ultimately unable to open the bus door.

“They did not give him entry to the bus,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said. “They locked him down, so he never made it on the bus.”

Adler was arrested and faces several felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run, and armed burglary.

Adler was released from Lee County Jail after posting $360,000 bond Friday.

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