Christian school dean arrested for 'use of punishment'

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - On Wednesday, Dec. 12, police said a Pensacola-based Christian school dean was arrested because of his use of punishment at the school.

Willie Demps runs the S.L. Jones Christian Academy in Pensacola. He's charged with cruelty toward a child and infliction of physical injury.

“We were contacted by the child's grandmother on December 7 after the child had come home limping,” said Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Coordinator Senna Maddison.

The child's grandmother told deputies that her granddaughter came home on December 3 complaining about being paddled by Demps.

“And at that point, the grandmother had actually signed a document saying she did not believe in corporal punishment -- did not want the child to be paddled,” said Maddison.

The grandmother told deputies the child was paddled again on December 5 and 7.

“She was involved in an altercation on the bus where Mr. Demps, Pastor Demps, had gotten on the bus and actually hit her in the leg,” said Maddison.

The grandmother told deputies that her granddaughter had bruises on her leg, and that's when she decided to call authorities.

“We also contacted Pastor Demps who made a statement that he had hit the child on the bus,” said Maddison.

According to investigators, Demps told deputies that the child was disciplined because she was picking on a kindergartner and a third grader.   

Demps was arrested at the school on Monday.

Demps did not return our phone call with a request for an interview.

A spokesperson with the Florida Department of Education said it does not oversee private schools policies, but corporal punishment is allowed in Florida public schools.