By Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Newberry resident, Morgan Simeon Prows, age 37, was taken into custody yesterday on charges of child abuse following allegations that he repeatedly kicked a child at Westside Park.

The incident occurred around 6:04 p.m. on January 10, prompting a swift response from an officer of the Gainesville Police Department at Albert ‘Ray’ Massey (Westside) Park, located at 1001 NW 34th Street. According to witness accounts, Prows was seen aggressively and repeatedly kicking a child who was down on the ground. Witnesses described Prows’ behavior as preventing the child from standing, characterizing his actions as both “malicious” and “aggressive.” Four witnesses noted that Prows’ conduct was inconsistent with that of a reasonable parent, emphasizing that he was shouting at the child to stop addressing him as “bro” while towering over him.

Following the alleged assault, Prows reportedly directed the child to sit on a piece of playground equipment. Witnesses overheard him remarking that the police and the Department of Children and Families would be summoned because of the child’s actions.

In a statement given after being informed of his Miranda rights, Prows denied any physical altercation with the child. He claimed that it had been several years since he last disciplined the child physically.

Prows has two local felony convictions (non-violent) and one local misdemeanor conviction (non-violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2009. Judge Donna Keim set bail at $10,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.