MIAMI — Two camp counselors were arrested this week after a 9-year-old boy was treated for facial bruising and ruptured blood vessels in his eye following an alleged June 11 incident at a summer program in southwest Miami-Dade, sheriff's and jail records show.
Authorities identified the defendants as Zaccheus Zamon Scott, 34, of Palmetto Bay, and Antoinette McKay, 50, of Cutler Bay. Both were booked Wednesday on one count each of child abuse with no great bodily harm, Miami-Dade jail records show. A judge set bond at $1,500 for each.
What deputies say happened
According to arrest reports, the boy was attending a summer camp at St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church on Southwest 107th Avenue and was playing football with his siblings when a physical altercation began between the boy and one sibling.
The reports say both counselors intervened. The boy told investigators that Scott "put large orange cones over his head, causing him to have difficulty breathing," and that McKay grabbed his ankles and pinned his back to the ground by holding his legs elevated while he sat on a chair. While he was held down, the boy said Scott slapped him multiple times in the face and head.
"Scott put large orange cones over his head, causing him to have difficulty breathing," the boy told investigators, according to the arrest reports.
The child was evaluated at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, where medical staff documented ruptured blood vessels in one eye, a scratch, and facial swelling and bruising. He was treated and released, records show.
Legal proceedings and statements
Scott and McKay appeared before a judge the day after their arrest. An attorney representing both defendants told the court that the boy's father continued to bring the child to the camp after the alleged incident and noted the father has prior arrests, including for child abuse, according to the reports. The judge set bond at $1,500 for each and they remain in custody pending further proceedings.
News Block reached out to St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church and attorneys for the defendants for comment; the church had not responded by publication.
Local context and concerns
The case raises questions for parents and guardians about supervision, staff training and vetting at local summer programs. Miami-Dade County requires background checks for many youth program staff, but enforcement and oversight at privately run or church-based camps can vary.
- When: Incident reported to have occurred June 11; arrests made Wednesday.
- Where: St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church, Southwest 107th Avenue, southwest Miami-Dade.
- Charges: One count each of child abuse with no great bodily harm; bonds set at $1,500 each.
Parents with concerns about camp safety can contact Miami-Dade County Department of Youth and Community Services for guidance on regulations and complaint procedures. The sheriff's office continues to investigate the matter as criminal proceedings move forward.
