Florida Elementary Principal Accused of Assault Locked Student in Classroom, Police Say

An elementary school principal in Florida was arrested this week for allegedly assaulting a student and keeping the boy trapped in a classroom, authorities said.

Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33, was arrested recently on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under 13 years of age, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The sheriff's office said deputies responded to a call on May 10 at Destiny Leadership Academy in Ocala about a "physical disturbance" between a student and Prophet, the school's principal.

Surveillance footage allegedly showed Prophet preventing the student from leaving a classroom for over 40 minutes.

The footage also allegedly showed Prophet "grabbing the victim, restraining him on the ground, and employing a chokehold," the sheriff's office said.

Prophet could also be seen in the video striking the child with a charging cable, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries.

"Additionally, Prophet twisted the child’s ankle, slapped the child in the face and subjected him to further physical abuse," the sheriff's office said.

Prophet allegedly claimed to deputies that the altercation was "an attempt to prevent harm to the child."

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The private school said it has fired Prophet.

Prophet pleaded not guilty to the charges and was being held in Marion County Jail on $50,000 bond.

TMX contributed to this report.