Daytona Beach School Search: 15-Year-Old Arrested After Online Joke

A 15-year-old Mainland High School student in Daytona Beach faces three criminal charges after police linked an online search to a threat against the president. The arrest occurred on Friday, the same day President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak at the local Ocean Center.

Daytona Beach Police Department records show the school received a Gaggle Alert. This software monitors school devices for language indicating violence or danger. The alert flagged text typed into the student’s district-issued OneDrive account. The entry read, “how to kill the president,” followed by “im just kidding.”

The arrest affidavit argues the context of the comments matters. It states that the student made the remarks the same day the president was due to arrive. The document notes that adding “im just kidding” suggests she knew a reasonable person would view the initial phrase as a threat.

Police describe a physical struggle during the detention process. The student attempted to leave the officer’s office, kicked, and swung her arms to avoid handcuffs. The officer brought her to the floor and took her into custody. Her guardian later told police she does not have access to weapons at home.

The student now faces charges for threatening to kill or cause bodily harm to another, obstructing police, and resisting an officer without violence. The case highlights how automated threat-detection tools in schools can trigger immediate law enforcement action based on digital footprints.