Judge dismisses charge against school guard

A Broward County judge dismissed a felony charge Tuesday that had been filed against a school district security guard who had a gun in his SUV while he was working at a middle school.

Nathaniel Strowbridge, 57, of Pompano Beach, was arrested Aug. 15 at the campus he once protected, Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach. And he lost his job.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said it received an anonymous tip that Strowbridge — who later testified that he worked for the district for nearly a quarter century — carried a gun on campus, an arrest report said.

On Sept. 13, the Broward State Attorney’s Office filed a felony charge against Strowbridge for possessing a Taurus handgun at the school, at 330 SE Eleventh Terrace.

After getting a search warrant, a deputy found the gun on the floorboard of Strowbridge’s Nissan Rouge. The former guard had a state concealed weapon license at the time.

Strowbridge’s attorney Noel Flasterstein said in court documents that his client was an honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran who did not have a criminal record. He asked Judge Barbara Duffy to dismiss the felony charge.

“The statute says it is illegal for anyone to have a gun on campus,” Flasterstein said Tuesday. “But he was charged with a felony, the wrong level of offense. He should only have been charged with a misdemeanor because he was a concealed weapon license holder.”

Duffy on Tuesday granted the motion to dismiss the charge that had prompted the state to suspend Strowbridge’s concealed weapon license.

The state attorney’s office said Tuesday it was reviewing the case to decide how it will proceed.

Flasterstein said Strowbridge has a hearing Monday with the school board to try to get his job back. A spokeswoman for the school district did not respond to a request for comment.

Strowbridge