A former elementary school principal in Florida is facing serious charges after an altercation with a student caught on video led to charges of assault and false imprisonment.
Dontay Akeem Prophet, formerly the principal at Destiny Leadership Academy in Ocala, was arrested on Saturday on numerous charges related to assaulting the child, including false imprisonment of a child under 13, as reported by Click Orlando.
NEW: The school principal who was caught assaulting a child at a Florida private school was arrested five years ago for s*xually abusing another child.
How the h*ll was he still allowed around children?
Dontay Prophet was caught on camera choking, hitting, and whipping a… pic.twitter.com/d3gzzitPIW
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 15, 2024
The incident came to light when authorities from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a physical altercation involving a student and the principal.
According to a statement released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance footage from the classroom revealed Prophet restraining the child for over 40 minutes, employing a chokehold, and striking the child with a charging cable. Additionally, Prophet allegedly twisted the child’s ankle and slapped the child in the face, among other forms of physical violence.
“During the investigation, surveillance footage from the classroom was obtained, revealing Prophet preventing the child from leaving the room for over 40 minutes,” the statement read. “Surveillance footage captured him grabbing the victim, restraining him on the ground, and employing a chokehold. Prophet can be seen on camera using a charging cable to strike the child, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries.”
The video footage captured Prophet preventing the child from leaving the room, grabbing the child, and holding him down, eventually resorting to physical violence.
When confronted with the evidence during his arrest, Prophet claimed that his actions were an attempt to prevent the child from harming himself. However, investigators argue that the footage clearly contradicts this explanation.
“I don’t know if you know this or not, but there’s a security camera in that room,” a deputy told the principal during the arrest, according to released body-camera footage.
NEW: The school principal who was caught assaulting a child at a Florida private school was arrested five years ago for s*xually abusing another child.
How the h*ll was he still allowed around children?
Dontay Prophet was caught on camera choking, hitting, and whipping a… pic.twitter.com/d3gzzitPIW
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 15, 2024
Prophet, 33, is currently being held without bail, as confirmed by Marion County records. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.
Following his arrest, Destiny Leadership Academy terminated Prophet’s employment. The academy, which prides itself on providing education infused with Christian principles, held a meeting with parents to address the incident and address concerns about student safety.
The arrest has left parents and community members shocked and outraged, with many questioning the motivations behind the alleged assault.
It has also been revealed that Prophet was previously charged with indecent acts with a child, which has called into question how he obtained employment at the private school.
Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33, principal at Destiny Leadership Academy (DLA) in Ocala, was arrested on May 11 after surveillance video from a classroom showed Prophet physically restraining a young boy.
It’s not Prophet’s first time being charged with a felony relating to a child.… pic.twitter.com/Xvb2EqNWio— Qᴀɢɢ.ɴᴇᴡꜱ (@qaggnews) May 14, 2024
