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Escambia Firefighter Charged With Felony Child Abuse
September 11, 2024
A now-suspended Escambia County Fire Rescue firefighter has been charged with felony child abuse for an incident unrelated to his job.
Zackary Adam Polk, 33, was charged with felony child abuse without great bodily harm. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
On August 21, Polk committed child abuse in a domestic violence situation by striking the child with the back of his left hand, causing him to fall to the ground, according to an arrest report. The report states Polk continued to strike the child five more times, causing an injury to his elbow.
Polk’s ex-wife alleged that Polk had been abusing the male child and, and another child had unknowingly recorded a video of the incident with her tablet.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the video shows the female child hit the male child with her left arm before Polk approached and struck the victim with the back of his left hand. The child raised his arms to protect his face, at which point Polk advanced towards the boy and pushed him out of the camera view, the report continues.
“I heard (the victim) crying and screaming, and I heard what appeared to be Zackary Polk hit (the victim) five more times,” the deputy wrote about the conclusion of the video in the arrest report.
The ECSO was provided with photos that allegedly showed bruising on the child’s torso, neck and shins, and a busted lip.
Polk was taken into custody without incident at the West Pensacola Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue on W Street. Officials say he has been suspended from ECFR pending the outcome of the case.
Polk told deputies that he did not recall an incident on August 21, and denied striking the child, the report states.
Editor’s note: Polk’s jail mugshot was exempt from release by Florida law.
Pictured: ECFR firefighter Zackary Polk rests following a July 2017 fire at a mattress business on West Fairfield Drive. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
5 Responses to “Escambia Firefighter Charged With Felony Child Abuse”
@The one
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the video shows the female child hit the male child with her left arm before Polk approached and struck the victim with the back of his left hand.
Why did he even go after the boy if like you said he was intervening?
I’m all for spanking a child when it’s warranted but anything beyond that is unacceptable.
What a weak and sad person that would for a child no matter the situation. Siblings are going to fight, that’s just part of being kids. Adults NEVER have a reason to strik/place their hands on a minor. Shows just how big a man this person is…I refuse to call him a man. There’s far too many other ways that he could have handled this situation but according to the deputies report…and the video…he didn’t handle it in a sensible manner…I bet he wish he had handled it differently now. Those who make a habit of abusing children don’t just do this cowardly act one time…it’s a habit they exhibit and probably has happened before. Great job ECFR for getting him out of contact with the public by suspending him. One can always dispute here say but you can’t dispute video footage. I pray for this young victim and hopefully he and his family can heal and move on from this situation and move on away from this…this fella. I said what I said!
@Dubs
Man, that is some analogy. My take from the information provided is that this man witnessed a son/step-son strike a female sibling and he intervened. There were probably words and/or actions not revealed as the deputy is not going to provide a blow by blow of the situation. None of which establishes this man as a coward or bad guy in any sense. However, just by your statement, you seem to be the kind of guy to say (about the govt spying on its citizens), “I don’t care about them spying on me, I have nothing to hide”.
The sheep says, baaaahhh baaaahhh.
Don’t know him myself, but this is a very disappointing story. From his vocation, I’m sure he aspired to be a decent man. But in the end, who we truly are is defined by our behavior in our weakest, hidden moments. No amount of heroics in public, can make up for such ugly cowardice in private. His family has my sympathy.
When you “don’t recall” hitting children and you’re on video doing so, you don’t need to be a Firefighter or a father, you need help! This guy has a serious problem. Bless those baby’s hearts.