ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police say what was originally reported as an attempted theft and battery by a homeless man is now an investigation into the two students involved, who police say were the ones who battered the man.
The incident happened Tuesday morning at Semoran Boulevard and La Costa Drive.
According to Orlando police, two students originally reported that they were walking to Jackson Middle School when a homeless man grabbed a cellphone from one of the children. The students began wrestling with the man, who bit one of them and ran away, police said.
After some investigation, detectives determined the students were the primary aggressors and committed a battery on the homeless man, according to police.
A search with K-9 units failed to find the man, police said.
It's not clear if the students face charges.
The student suffered a superficial wound and did not require medical treatment, police said.
The students' parents were notified about the incident.
Orange County Public Schools sent home a ConnectORANGE message to parents, discussing the incident.
"Law enforcement is investigating an encounter two students had with a stranger on their way to school this morning," the principal said in the call, also telling parents to remind their children about "stranger danger."