Man arrested for choking 12-year-old boy in Daytona restaurant, cops say

Man arrested on child abuse charges

Jeremy Almeida.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A man was arrested on child abuse charges after police say he choked a 12-year-old boy on top of a pool table inside a Daytona Beach restaurant late Monday night.

Jeremy A. Almeida, 32, was arrested on Tuesday on child abuse charges after he chased and choked a 12-year-old boy in the restaurant located at 1500 S. Atlantic Ave., the police report says.

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Almeida became angry with the victim while at the restaurant with the boy and his mother. Almeida reached across the table to choke the boy, chased him around the restaurant, held him down on a pool table and choked him until he was gasping for air, according to the police report.

Employees went to the victim's aid, and Almeida fled the scene. Police found him walking along Atlantic Avenue, where he confessed to being the suspect involved in the incident. Police detained him for further investigation.

Back at the restaurant, police had the victim fill out a written statement. The mother went in and out of the restaurant several times, but it wasn't until she learned that Almeida would be arrested that she refused to let her son continue with any further paperwork, the police report says. 

The victim's mother was present for the entire incident, but was intoxicated and belligerent, police said. The three currently live together as a family unit, according to the police report.

The Department of Children and Families has been notified of the incident.


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