Monroe County, FL - A 50-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday at a Florida Keys resort on charges of aggravated child abuse after allegedly assaulting his daughter over her dating preferences.
According to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, identified as William Douglas Burks, was involved in a verbal argument with his 15-year-old daughter.
The argument escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in the man being arrested.
The arrest report details that Burks was having dinner with his wife, daughter, and daughter's friend when the argument began.
The victim's account states that her father has a history of making racist remarks and disapproving of her dating Black men.
The argument intensified when the victim threw a soda at Burks, expressing her frustration with his behavior.
Burks' wife corroborated the victim's story, adding that she and the girls left the restaurant and returned to their hotel room while Burks remained at the bar.
Approximately an hour later, Burks arrived at the hotel room and reignited the argument.
The situation escalated when Burks threw his keys at his daughter, prompting her to throw her cell phone back at him.
The incident culminated in Burks grabbing his daughter by the hair, throwing her on the bed, and punching her multiple times.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies placed Burks under arrest.
He was transported to the Monroe County jail and held without bond on charges of aggravated child abuse and misdemeanor battery.