Florida assistant principal arrested for domestic assault

A Florida elementary school assistant principal was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly pushed his wife to the ground and seized her cellphone when she couldn’t immediately locate the TV remote. Marc Horowitz, 52, faces a domestic battery charge in Polk County after the incident, which occurred at the couple’s home in Lakeland. The arrest came less than 24 hours after the altercation, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Police reports indicate neighbors heard yelling before the physical confrontation. When deputies arrived, they found Horowitz’s wife with visible marks on her arms. She told investigators that Horowitz had demanded she find the remote, and when she couldn’t, he became enraged and threw her to the floor. Horowitz later admitted to taking her phone but denied pushing her, according to police records.

Domestic violence advocates say such incidents often escalate from verbal abuse to physical violence when control is challenged—even over something as trivial as a missing remote. Florida law allows arrests in domestic battery cases even if the victim doesn’t press charges, based on officer observations. Horowitz, who has worked in education for over two decades, remains on paid administrative leave from his school district pending review.

Prosecutors will now decide whether to file formal charges. If convicted, Horowitz could face up to a year in county jail and mandatory domestic violence counseling. The case highlights how domestic disputes can turn violent over everyday frustrations, and how schools handle allegations against staff when the conduct occurs off campus.