Evangelist’s daughter says he choked, hit her

ATLANTA — The 15year- old daughter of megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar told authorities her father choked and punched her, and hit her with his shoe during an argument over whether she could go to a party, according to a police report.

Dollar’s 19-year- old daughter corroborated most of her sister's story, but Dollar disputed it , telling a sheriff's deputy he was trying to restrain her when she became disrespectful. When she began to hit back, he wrestled her to the floor and spanked her, according to the police report.

Dollar is one of the most prominent African-American preachers based around Atlanta. His World Changers Church International has 30,000 members in the Atlanta area, and the ministry has satellite churches across the U.S.

Dollar faces misdemeanor charges of simple battery and cruelty to children. He has been released from jail and his lawyer said he was expected to preach today.

Around 1 a.m. Friday, Dollar’s 15-year- old daughter called 911. She told a sheriff's deputy that she and her father argued when he said she couldn't go to a party Saturday night, according to the report.

She went into the kitchen with her older sister. When her father asked why she was crying, she told him, “I do Creflo Dollar not want to talk right now,” the report said.

Her father charged at her, put his hands around her throat, began to punch her and started hitting her with his shoe, she told the deputy. The deputy noted a scratch on her neck.

Dollar told the deputy he wouldn't let his daughter go to the party because of poor grades.

The deputy also interviewed Dollar's 19-year- old daughter, who said her father grabbed the younger girl's shoulders and slapped her in the face and choked her for about five seconds.

She said her sister tried to break free, but did not fight back. When her father threw the 15-year- old on the floor, the older girl ran to get her mother.