Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jordan Terrell Banks, 24, was arrested yesterday after deputies said he struck four young children in anger.
An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a residence at about 1:53 p.m. on July 19, where the caller reportedly shared video showing Banks hitting three of the children “needlessly.” According to the deputy, the video showed Banks “forcefully” striking a one-year-old girl on the back of the head, causing her head to hit the couch. The deputy also reported that the footage showed Banks hitting a three-year-old child on the head, then walking to a two-year-old child and striking her across the back with enough force to knock her down. The caller also said Banks had hit a five-year-old child.
The deputy reported that none of the children had visible injuries.
After being read his Miranda rights, Banks reportedly admitted that he hit the children “without discipline in mind” and said he had “acted out of anger.” He also reportedly acknowledged that he knew hitting the children was wrong and that he should not have struck them in that manner.
Banks is facing four counts of domestic battery and four counts of child abuse without great bodily harm. His full criminal history was not available, but he has no local adult convictions. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Banks held without bail while the court considers a State Attorney’s Office motion to keep him detained without bail until trial; if that motion is denied, bail will be set at the hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
