Newberry Man Arrested on Child Abuse Charge at Gainesville Park

GAINESVILLE – A 37-year-old Newberry man was arrested Saturday evening on a child abuse charge following an incident reported by multiple witnesses at a Gainesville park.

According to police, officers with the Gainesville Police Department were called at approximately 6:04 p.m. to Albert 'Ray' Massey Westside Park, located at 1001 N.W. 34^th Street, after witnesses reported seeing a man repeatedly kicking a child who was on the ground.

An officer arriving at the park reported that the man, identified as Prows, prevented the child from standing by “maliciously and aggressively” kicking him to keep him on the ground. Four witnesses told police that the behavior was not consistent with reasonable parental discipline. They reported that the man was standing over the child and yelling at him to stop calling him “bro.”

The officer further reported that after the kicking stopped, Prows directed the child to sit on a piece of playground equipment. Witnesses said they heard him tell the child that people were going to call the police and the Department of Children and Families because of the child.

Prows was taken into custody at approximately 8:06 p.m. and charged with child abuse.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Prows reportedly denied hitting or kicking the child and told officers that he had not physically disciplined the victim in several years.

Court records indicate that Prows has two local felony convictions and one local misdemeanor conviction and previously served a state prison sentence. He was released from prison in 2009.

At his initial appearance, bail was set at $10,000 by Judge Donna Keim.

The incident remains under investigation.

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