A high school teacher accused of pointing a starter's pistol at the head of a 15-year-old student after the boy talked back to him was placed on leave and charged with aggravated assault.
Neil Garrison III, 40, a DeLand High School teacher and 18-year track coach, pulled out the pistol Friday afternoon when his English class became unruly, a sheriff's report said.Authorities say Garrison told ninth-grader Michael Self, "You need to be hit" and the boy replied, "Hit me, then." The boy told deputies that Garrison got the pistol from his desk, walked over to him, pointed the gun at his head and said "Bang."
The modified .22-caliber pistol was not fired, and Self, who reported the incident, was not hurt. He refused to comment Tuesday.