MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two summer camp counselors were arrested Wednesday after investigators say they abused a 9-year-old boy during an incident last month at a southwest Miami-Dade church camp.
The suspects were identified in an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office as Antoinette McKay, 50, of Cutler Bay, and Zaccheus Zamon Scott, 34, of Miami.
According to the report, the incident happened on June 11 at St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church, located at 17901 Southwest 107th Ave., where McKay and Scott served as the boy’s camp coaches and counselors.
Investigators said the boy was playing football with his siblings at the summer camp when a fight broke out between him and one of his siblings.
That’s when deputies say McKay and Scott intervened.
According to the report, the boy told investigators that Scott placed “large orange cones” over his head, causing him to have difficulty breathing.
The report states McCay then “grabbed the victim by his ankles, pinning him on his back on the ground, with his legs elevated and held down at the ankles on the seat portion of a chair.”
Deputies said as McCay held down the victim, Scott proceeded to slap him multiple times on the left side of his face and head area.
According to the report, the boy suffered ruptured blood vessels in his left eye, a scratch between his eyes and swelling and bruising to the left side of his face.
The report states the boy’s father later took him to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and released. Doctors advised the family to monitor him for symptoms of a concussion, according to the report.
Investigators said McKay and Scott invoked their Miranda rights and declined to speak with detectives.
Pastor Robert Brooks of St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church said he was unaware of the alleged incident or the arrests until Thursday morning.
“It is disappointing to hear the allegations,” Brooks said.
After learning details outlined in the arrest reports, Brooks called the allegations “very egregious” and said he had not previously heard those accusations.
Defense attorney Kenneth Weismann argued in court that the boy and his sibling returned to the camp for four days after the alleged incident, suggesting someone else may have been responsible for the victim’s injuries. He also referenced the boy’s father, saying he has prior arrests, including for child abuse.
Jail records show both suspects are each facing one count of child abuse without great bodily harm.
As of Thursday morning, the pair were each being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $1,500 bonds. They were also ordered by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer to stay away from the victim.
A representative for CMB Visions Unlimited Summer Camp did not immediately respond to Local 10’s request for comment.
Brooks said the church is re-evaluating whether it will continue renting its facilities to the summer camp in light of the allegations.
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