Lowell Corrections Officer Arrested for Domestic Violence

Early Sunday morning, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies arrested Elijah Christian Akpan, 27, and charged him with misdemeanor domestic battery.

According to the arrest report, Akpan contacted ACSO to report the victim missing. Soon after, the victim called ACSO from a Wawa gas station to report that Akpan had kicked her out of the house and taken her keys.

Deputy James Leber reported, “As I was enroute, I contacted the Defendant on a recorded phone call. He explained to me that they had an argument due to relationship problems. I asked him if it became physical. The Defendant told me he 'shoved her out of the house' because he wanted her to leave, and he confirmed he meant he physically touched her. Upon arrival, I conducted a non-custodial interview with the Defendant. He told me he took the Victim's phone and looked through it tonight. He saw something he did not like, at which point he confronted her in their upstairs bedroom. He said he grabbed a water bottle out of her hand, picked her up out of bed, and made her leave. He said she wanted her shoes and ‘that's when the shoving came into play.’ He physically demonstrated to me how he used both hands to push and physically guide her from behind to get her out of the home. He denied ever striking the Victim or having any history of domestic violence.”

The victim told Leber that Akpan had taken her phone and went upstairs to confront her before grabbing water out of her hands and moving her out of the bed. Akpan continuously pushed the victim until she was outside the residence, preventing her from getting her shoes and car keys. At some point after she was able to get her belongings.

Despite Akpan denying a history of domestic violence with the victim, the arrest report states, “The Victim said they have a history of unreported domestic violence. She said he's put his hands on her, thrown her, and hit her multiple times in the past... ACSO does have a prior domestic disturbance report from March 2025 that involved third-party allegations of violence, but probable cause a crime occurred could not be established then.”

According to his pretrial investigation summary, Akpan is employed as a corrections officer at the Lowell Correctional Institute, a women’s prison in Marion County.

Akpan was released on recognizance under the orders of Judge Adam Lee.

Lee ordered Akpan not to contact the victim and to refrain from possessing firearms, drugs and alcohol.