Gainesville man arrested for choking 6-year-old

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Courtney Ricardo Chambers, 47, was arrested yesterday for allegedly choking a 6-year-old child.

During a forensic interview, the 6-year-old victim said Chambers got upset with her because she didn’t want to do math problems, and he slapped her hands; she said this hurt, so she slapped Chambers on the back. She said she tried to run, but Chambers grabbed her by the neck and squeezed it to the extent that her neck hurt, her voice was gone, and she needed to drink water. She said she was fearful that Chambers would squeeze her neck again.

Post Miranda, Chambers reportedly acknowledged the disagreement about the math problems, but he denied hitting the victim or being hit by the victim.

Chambers has been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $40,000.

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.