Man accused of grabbing child, stealing fishing pole

IONA, Fla. (WINK) - What started as a quiet morning of fishing ended with a 66-year-old man in jail after deputies say he grabbed a child near a retention pond in Iona.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, two boys, ages 11 and 12, were fishing Sunday morning near the Kelly Greens community when Gregory Schweibold approached them.

Investigators say Schweibold came out of a nearby residence and spoke with the boys before the encounter escalated. Deputies say Schweibold grabbed one of the children by both arms and pulled him toward the water before taking the fishing pole he was holding.

The child was able to get away, but investigators say Schweibold then chased the other boy while still holding the first fishing pole. That boy dropped his own fishing pole and ran.

Deputies say video provided during the investigation showed Schweibold chasing one of the boys while holding a fishing pole. Investigators say another video showed him later walking with both fishing poles before they were left near the roadway.

Hannah Loving, who lives near the retention pond, described the area as a quiet community where people are often seen golfing and families spend time outside.

“Hearing what happened yesterday is really shocking and surprising,” Loving said. “I live right on that retention pond. We see kids fish it sometimes, but it’s never, like, bothering anyone or affecting anything.”

Loving said people do sometimes fish in the ponds despite rules against it, but she has never seen a disagreement over fishing turn into an altercation.

“I mean, it’s just kids trying to have fun doing a safe activity,” Loving said. “Maybe they’re breaking a rule and they don’t know that they’re not supposed to be fishing there, but I don’t think it should ever have to escalate to that.”

Loving said residents typically handle concerns by speaking with people or contacting the appropriate authorities.

“If something’s happening that you think is breaking the rules, call the HOA or, you know, law enforcement, but never, never take it into your own hands,” she said.

WINK News reached out to the golf course to clarify the rules surrounding fishing in the area and to request contact information for the community association. We have not yet heard back.

Detectives said they located exterior cameras in the area that could have captured the incident and obtained a residential search warrant. According to the probable cause statement, Schweibold invoked his rights and did not speak with investigators about what happened.

Schweibold was arrested and charged with robbery by sudden snatching without a deadly weapon and child abuse without great bodily harm.

Court records included with the arrest paperwork show Schweibold is expected to appear in court on Sept. 28.