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Cantonment Man Charged With Child Abuse After Allegedly Striking Juvenile With Stick
August 17, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after allegedly striking a juvenile with a wooden stick and violating an injunction for protection against domestic violence involving his ex-wife.
Gemal Fathygebri Floyd Sr., 40, was charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm (domestic violence) and misdemeanor violation of an injunction for protection against domestic violence.
According to an arrest report from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on the night of August 12, following reports of an altercation at a residence in Cottage Hill.
An investigation revealed that Floyd arrived at the home to confront a juvenile about why the youth’s phone location had been turned off. During an argument in the front yard, Floyd reportedly grabbed a wooden stick from the bed of his truck, stated “Let me show you something,” and struck the victim in the leg and left forearm, leaving a visible red welt. Multiple witnesses at the residence reported seeing the altercation and hearing the strikes.
Deputies also determined that Floyd violated an active, permanent domestic violence injunction held by his ex-wife. The order, originally served in 2023, strictly limited contact to civil text messages regarding their child. Investigators noted that Floyd violated the order by placing multiple calls and sending rude, threatening text messages to his ex-wife, telling her she would not have a job when he was through with her.
When interviewed by deputies, Floyd admitted to traveling to the Cottage Hill address after noticing the youth’s location was off, admitting he struck the juvenile with a stick before driving away and calling back to apologize. He also admitted to calling and texting his ex-wife, claiming he believed the injunction had been dismissed.
Floyd was taken into custody at a residence on Pine Street in Cantonment and booked into the Escambia County Jail, where he was held without bond. The incident was reported to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Floyd remained in the Escambia County Jail on MOnday morning with bond set at $3,500.
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