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Sheriff: Angry parent in drop-off line hits elementary school volunteer with his car

Victim rammed by car twice in front of students
Posted at 4:26 PM, Sep 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-21 02:29:43-04

Shock and fear are two emotions William Denamen didn’t think he would experience while volunteering at Calusa Elementary School to help keep kids safe while parents pick up and drop of their children.

But, Tuesday morning Denamen said a belligerent parent took out his aggression directly on him.

“I could've slid off the hood fell underneath and he could've ran me over like you wouldn't believe because I feel he was that angry,” Denamen said.

Pasco Sheriff's Office arrested Lawrence Dean Franklin, 34, for aggravated battery with a vehicle on a person over 65 years old.

Denamen, 79, said he worked 33 years in law enforcement and never had an encounter where he felt his life was in danger.

“I've never had anything like this…it was a shocker to me,” Denamen said. “I was so upset, so upset, very upset of the fact it happened in front of kids!”

Pasco deputies arrested Franklin on school property.

The report said that “Franklin refused to comply with the volunteer and took his foot "off the brake" when Denamen was standing in front of his vehicle to show the victim he was serious and had to leave.”

Denamen's volunteered at the school for the past two years. He will be back at work tomorrow morning.

He just hopes other parents who lose their patience in line will learn a lesson from what happened to him.

“Some days it is chaos out there,” Denamen said. “It's wrong. There's no reason for parents to act worse than their kids.”

Franklin was driving a 2006 Cadillac CTS weighing over 3500 pounds, according to Pasco deputies.