- February 6, 2026
A Seabreeze High School paraprofessional was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 5, after police say he kicked a 17-year-old student with Down syndrome during a behavioral incident.
Daytona Beach Police report that 50-year-old Dontel Wright was arrested at 4:18 p.m. after an investigation by Seabreeze's school resource officer, who was notified about the incident from the assistant principal. The incident happened in the school gym around 12:30 p.m., according to the police report, which also notes that the victim had been having a rough day after their favorite teacher was absent from school.
The victim was found to be running down school hallways, requiring staff members to follow and track them throughout the day, police report. The victim never showed physical aggression toward Wright.
DBPD reported that the victim ran and tried to hide from Wright behind the bleachers after they were kicked, and that Wright followed the student and "forcibly pulled" them from under the bleachers.
The student did not sustain any injuries. The parents were notified and wanted to press child abuse charges. Dontel is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bond.
DBPD states this remains an active criminal investigation.
