PANAMA CITY BEACH — The band director of Surfside Middle School has been suspended following his arrest Friday on a child abuse charge.
Karen Tucker, school district spokesperson, verified Saturday that Daniel Patrick Holmes, 33, works at the middle school. Holmes is accused of injuring his child in two separate instances of abuse.
Tucker declined to verify Holmes’ position at the school, but he is listed on the school’s website as band director.
He was being held on $5,000 bond in Bay County Jail on Saturday afternoon.
A hearing is being scheduled with Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt to determine Holmes’ future at the school. Holmes has been informally suspended with pay pending the outcome of a police investigation, Tucker said, and will not be at Surfside Middle on Monday. Husfelt will decide whether to officially suspend Holmes with pay, allow Holmes to return to work, or recommend to the School Board that he be terminated. The School Board would make the final decision.
“As soon as we can Monday, we’ll have a meeting with him,” Husfelt said.
Holmes was reported to police Thursday by the Florida Department of Children and Families. His child had suffered injuries that required medical treatment and indicated abuse, Panama City Beach police reported. Further details on the incident have not been released. Husfelt said the school district has “no knowledge of any other complaints or charges against (Holmes)” in the past.
Holmes has performed in the Panama City area as a saxophonist with at least two local music outfits. According to the music groups’ websites, Holmes is also in the Alabama Army Reserve.