Police: Dad hit girls who wouldn't pray

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 23 (UPI) -- Jacksonville, Fla., police said a father has been arrested for allegedly fighting with his teenage daughters after one of them refused to pray.

Alonzo Burke, 44, told investigators that he began pushing and hitting his 18-year-old daughter while he was driving her to school in the morning because she refused his instructions to pray, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, Fla., reported Wednesday.

"The father asked the occupants of the car to begin to pray, the daughter said she didn't want to pray," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said.

He said the 18-year-old daughter returned the violence by punching him in the face.

Burke said he pulled the car into a convenience store parking lot where his 16-year-old daughter joined the brawl by grabbing him from behind while he was chasing his elder daughter.

He told police he accidentally bit the 16-year-old while her hands were on his face.

Burke was arrested and charged with domestic battery. He has been released on bond.