According to The Associated Press, a Broward County sheriff's deputy was recently arrested on charges of domestic violence after allegedly getting into a fight with his girlfriend. NBC Miami reports that he allegedly beat and choked the woman as well.
Charges of domestic battery in Fort Lauderdale have come into focus lately after several South Florida athletes have been arrested on similar charges. In the last several months, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall and former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez were arrested on charges of domestic violence.
In Marshall's case, he was accused of striking his wife, who them was accused of stabbing him with a piece of glass. Without cooperation from either, charges were dropped by authorities, who were unable to prove the allegations.
In Ramirez's case, he was accused of causing his wife to hit her head against their bed's headboard after pushing her. He claims it was an accident.
These charges require the experience of a skilled Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer, who can seek to get charges dismissed or lessened either through a plea agreement or a trial. These charges can have serious consequences on a person's reputation, career and standing in the community.
And they can lead to jail or probation on top of fines and fees and the aforementioned personal problems. But these charges oftentimes are based on allegations that are unproven. In many domestic violence situations, police are called to a house or apartment with little information.
When they get there they are forced to make a decision of whom to trust -- typically the man or the woman -- without much physical evidence that can tie either one to being guilty.
In this case, according to NBC, the 56-year-old Broward County Sheriff's deputy was arrested and charged with domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery. A report states that deputies responded to the home after midnight after the officer called police to tell them he'd been headbutted by his girlfriend.
The girlfriend countered that he had spit in her face, took her to the ground, headbutted her and punched her in the eye "with a closed fist" several times. She also claimed that the deputy choked her.
Both were hospitalized -- the deputy with a laceration on his forehead and scratches on his arms and his girlfriend with pain in her head, bruising and cuts. Apparently, only the deputy was charged.
This is another situation where law enforcement officers must make a tough decision in a relatively short time. They received a call from the deputy, a man, claiming he had been attacked. Yet it was his girlfriend who apparently made the more compelling case to be the victim. And, so, officers charged the man.
This happens every day in every city. Domestic violence is common, but what's debatable is how common it is for officers to arrest the right person. They rarely get called to a situation where they don't make an arrest because if they leave and the violence escalates, there could be consequences for everyone involved.
If you, a family member or other loved one are arrested and charged with a crime in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale or Miami, contact Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyers today at 1-866-727-5384 to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Third Miami-Area Athlete Charged Recently With Domestic Violence in Fort Lauderdale: October 28, 2011
BSO Deputy Charged With Domestic Battery, by Brian Hamacher, NBC Miami
