Florida principal caught on video beating special needs student
A Florida elementary school principal is facing charges after allegedly beating a special needs student in an incident that was caught on camera.
Dontay Prophet, 33, was arrested and accused of whipping the child with a charging cable and putting him in a chokehold at Destiny Leadership Academy, a private school in Ocala.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said there’s surveillance video of the abuse, which lasted for nearly an hour.
“Surveillance footage captured (Prophet) grabbing the victim, restraining him on the ground, and employing a chokehold,” the sheriff’s office said. “Prophet can be seen on camera using a charging cable to strike the child, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries.”
Deputies said at one point the child tried to escape and hide under a table but was grabbed again, after which Prophet “slapped the child in the face, and subjected him to further physical abuse.”
Prophet claimed he was trying to stop the student from harming himself, but deputies said the video evidence contradicted his statement.
Prophet was previously arrested for inappropriately touching a boy at his home in 2019 but those charges were ultimately dropped, officials said.
The school said Prophet was on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Prophet is being held without bond on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13.
The identity and age of the child were not released.
The sheriff’s office said it was investigating what events occurred leading up to the assault.
_____
