Georgia man staying at guest home in Clermont allegedly hits child in his care

A Georgia man was arrested after allegedly hitting a child in the pool area of Windsor Cay Resort.

Deputies responded to a guest home at Windsor Cay Resort, 1217 Emerald Row, Clermont, regarding child abuse around 8:40 p.m. Friday, July 3, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The caller advised that 34-year-old Alexander Frazier Ellis punched and struck a juvenile.

The juvenile victim advised that he had been “horseplaying” in the pool with Ellis when he became very angry. Yelling, he “dragged” the juvenile victim out of the pool and away from the area. He then forcefully grabbed the juvenile victim’s throat to the point that the juvenile victim had to grab his hand and remove it, the report said.

Ellis responded by punching the juvenile victim in the chest and lower neck area. The juvenile victim appeared scared of Ellis, upset or otherwise shocked by what happened. He had to lock himself in another room to use his phone because he was fearful and did not know what to do, the report said.

When law enforcement spoke to Ellis, he initially stated that nothing had happened. He had been horsing around in the pool when the juvenile victim “challenged him.” He was “defeated” and got upset about it, the report said.

Ellis did not give a detailed account of the incident and instead focused on the juvenile victim being emotional and upset. During a second interview, he denied ever grabbing or striking the juvenile victim. He claimed they both got out of the pool on their own. The deputy asked if he told his wife on the phone that he had struck the juvenile victim and would do it again, and he denied it, the report said.

Additionally, the report noted Ellis appeared to be intoxicated throughout this interaction. A strong odor of alcoholic beverage came from his person while speaking to the deputy.

Ellis was ultimately arrested on charge of domestic child abuse (assault/battery). He was booked at the Lake County South District Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.