In a shocking incident that has left the community of Ocala, Florida, reeling, Dontay Akeem Prophet, the 33-year-old principal of Destiny Leadership Academy, was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under 13 years of age.
Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33, was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a victim under the age of 13.
Surveillance video shows Prophet preventing a boy from leaving a classroom. He grabbed the student and put him in a chokehold on the ground. He… pic.twitter.com/0m9JmvIdi1
— Lorrie Ann 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇸 (@LorrieAnn25) May 14, 2024
This incident has marked a dark day in the school’s history and has raised serious concerns about the safety of students in educational institutions.
“When our deputy arrived and viewed the surveillance video of this teacher stopping the child from leaving, hitting him, holding him down, putting him in a chokehold until he finally lets him leave the room — it’s heartbreaking. We send our children to school to people who are supposed to teach them and protect them and help them flourish from children into adults,” said Valerie Strong with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on a Friday, the exact date of which has not been disclosed. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was alerted and promptly began an investigation. The details that emerged from the investigation were alarming.
Prophet allegedly prevented the child from leaving the room for over 40 minutes, a clear case of false imprisonment. The abuse escalated from there, with Prophet reportedly employing a chokehold on the child, using a charging cable to strike the child, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries, twisting the child’s ankle, and slapping the child in the face.
In a conversation with authorities, Prophet defended his actions, claiming, “At the time when I’m poking him. I’m not hurting him. I’m trying to get his attention”.
However, the evidence obtained by the police in the course of their investigation contradicted this assertion. The severity of the child’s injuries and the nature of the abuse pointed to a clear case of aggravated child abuse.
Following the investigation, Prophet was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail where he is being held without bond. The news of his arrest sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about the safety measures in place at Destiny Leadership Academy and other schools in the area.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson, Valerie Strong, provided further insight into the incident, stating, “Dontay Prophet started touching the child and pushing on him, and it turned into where he started to physically abuse the child”.
The arresting officer, captured on bodycam footage, informed Prophet about the surveillance video, saying, “Yeah, and it caught everything on camera. Everything”.
The identity, condition, and age of the child were not released by authorities, respecting the privacy and safety of the minor involved in this unfortunate incident. The investigation into what caused the incident in the first place is currently ongoing.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift action in cases of suspected child abuse. If anyone suspects child abuse, they should call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
As the community grapples with this incident, it is hoped that justice will be served and measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of all students. The story of the principal child abuse case continues to unfold, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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