Introduction to the Incident
A professor at the University of Central Florida was arrested last week after chasing an Oviedo middle schooler onto school property and smacking the boy’s bicycle helmet off his head, according to his arrest report.
Shuo Sean Pang, 41, was arrested Oct. 14 on charges of battery and trespassing at Jackson Heights Middle School in Oviedo, the report shows.
Pang’s profile page on UCF’s website says he is an associate professor at the school’s College of Optics and Photonics who has won several awards since he joined the faculty. His arrest was first reported by The Charge, UCF’s student newspaper.
The Chase and Arrest
Oviedo police responded to the middle school around 10 a.m. that morning and were informed by a school resource officer about a chase involving a student and an adult man, who was later identified as Pang, the report said.
The student told police he was riding his bike to school when the man called out to him to slow down. The boy said “no,” and the man then followed him on foot as he rode to school.
Pang’s home address on his arrest report shows he lives about three miles from the middle school.
When the boy arrived on campus, he said the man also came onto school property, approached him and grabbed his arm, according to the report.
The boy said he asked the man to stop touching him. The man then yelled that the boy was not wearing a helmet and proceeded to smack the boy’s helmet off his head, the report said.
One of the student’s friends then got in between him and the man, trying to get the adult away. The friend told police the man then tried to push him, the report shows.
The friend’s mother told police she witnessed the incident and stepped in when the man put a hand on her son. She said the man continued to behave aggressively towards her son until school staff arrived and diffused the situation, according to the report.
The report said surveillance footage confirms the students’ stories. The parents of both boys want Pang prosecuted, it said.
Aftermath and Investigation
When questioned by police, Pang admitted to chasing the student after telling him to stop riding his bike. He also admitted he followed the child to the school and requested he apologize.
A UCF spokesperson didn’t immediately respond Tuesday evening to a request for information about Pang’s employment status. Pang also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
His UCF page says Pang has a PhD in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology and won awards at UCF for excellence in undergraduate teaching in 2019, among others. His research, the page says, focuses on “modeling and developing optoelectronic system for sensing, imaging and computing applications, including the application of AI in solving imaging and photonic design problems.”
Originally Published: October 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM EDT
Conclusion
The incident involving Professor Shuo Sean Pang and the middle school student raises serious concerns about the behavior of individuals in positions of authority. The actions described in the arrest report are alarming and highlight the need for thorough investigations into such incidents. The university’s response and any subsequent actions regarding Pang’s employment will be crucial in addressing the situation and ensuring the safety and well-being of students.
FAQs
Q: Who is Shuo Sean Pang?
A: Shuo Sean Pang is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics and Photonics.
Q: What charges was Pang arrested for?
A: Pang was arrested on charges of battery and trespassing.
Q: What happened during the incident?
A: Pang chased a middle school student onto school property, grabbed his arm, and smacked his bicycle helmet off his head.
Q: Has the university commented on Pang’s employment status?
A: A UCF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for information about Pang’s employment status.
Q: What is the current status of the case?
A: The report said the parents of both boys want Pang prosecuted, and surveillance footage confirms the students’ stories.
