Police briefs: Dentist allegedly struck dental assistant wife

MANATEE — A dentist was charged with domestic battery after he allegedly struck his wife, a dental assistant, three to four times with a metal dental instrument while a patient was sedated for surgery, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

Prashant Pandya, 31, who practices dentistry at Manatee Oral and Facial Surgery Center, 5460 Lena Road, had his wife assisting him during surgery Thursday morning.

Other dental assistants in the room told deputies Pandya struck his wife three to four times on her left shoulder with the metal instrument, according to the report. Deputies arrived on scene, and Pandya was arrested an hour after the incident.

As of Friday afternoon, he remained in jail with a $10,000 bond.

Manatee teacher arrested for domestic battery

MANATEE — A 33-year-old elementary school teacher was arrested this week after he allegedly placed a woman in a choke hold at her residence and took her phone away.

Brian Dock Pollard, who is listed as a teacher at G.D. Rogers Elementary School, according to arrest papers dated March 8, has had numerous domestic violence injunctions filed against him, according to court records.

The woman told deputies she was later on the phone when Pollard came into her bedroom, knocked her to the ground and started hitting and kneeing her.

Her 8-year-old daughter saw her on the floor. When the girl ran to get help, Pollard pushed her, according to the arrest report.

School officials at Manatee County school district said Friday they could not confirm if Pollard worked in the district.

Pollard was released from jail this week. His next court date is scheduled for April 8.

Teen charged with sexually battering child

MANATEE — Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a sexual battery case where a boy around 14 years old reportedly coerced a child as young as 8 into performing oral sex on several occasions, according to a released statement.

The incidents took place between August and December last year. The case was reported after the child told his mother.

The case remains under investigation, and the teen is in the juvenile detention center on a similar case.

— Beth Burger