Elementary school principal arrested after video showed him hitting student, putting them in a chokehold

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - An elementary school principal in Florida was arrested after a video showed him hitting a student and putting them in a chokehold, according to authorities.

On Friday, deputies responded to a call about a fight between a student and 33-year-old Dontay Akeem Prophet at Destiny Leadership Academy.

WCJB reported that surveillance video showed Prophet preventing a boy from leaving a classroom. In the video, he can be seen grabbing the student and putting him in a chokehold on the ground.

Prophet allegedly used a charging cable to strike the child, causing him to fall. He’s also accused of twisting the boy’s ankle and slapping his face, while also committing other abuse.

During questioning, Prophet said he was attempting to prevent harm to the child.

Body camera footage shows deputies telling Prophet the entire incident was caught on camera, contradicting his statement.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a victim under the age of 13.

This isn’t the first time Prophet has had a run-in with the law.

In 2019, he was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior of a minor under the age of 16.

At the time, he was a behavioral specialist at South Ocala Elementary. He was accused of inviting a student to his home and touching him sexually, WCJB reported.

Prophet resigned from the Marion County School District after being put on leave in 2019.

Prosecutors negotiated a plea deal with Prophet and he pleaded guilty to the downgraded charge of attempting to interfere with the custody of a child.

Copyright 2024 WCJB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.