--- title: "Chronic Domestic Disturbance" type: "pdf" year: "1995" canonical: "/projects/1007" --- # DRIVE PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA # Table of Contents - [DRIVE PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA](#drive-port-st-lucie-florida) - [CONTENTS](#contents) - [The city of Port St. Lucie is located on the east coast of Florida, approximately 100 miles north of Miami.](#the-city-of-port-st-lucie-is-located-on-the-east-coast-of-florida-approximately-100-miles-north-of-miami) - [PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA](#port-st-lucie-florida) - [CONTENTS](#contents) - [FINDINGS](#findings) - [SUMMARY](#summary) ## CONTENTS - Project Report - Analytical Study - Analytical Findings - Summary - Support Documents # The city of Port St. Lucie is located on the east coast of Florida, approximately 100 miles north of Miami. The city encompasses 86 square miles and has a population of 70,000 people. The police department employs 105 sworn officers. ![img-0.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/95-61%28r%29/img-0.jpeg) In November, 1992, $\square$ years of age, purchased a home in a very affluent neighborhood known as St. Lucie West Heatherwood Estates in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Th e cost for a home in this area ranges from $\$ 100,000.00$ to $\$ 500,000.00$. Th e personal make-up of this community includes television news anchor people, physicians, attorneys, entrepreneurs, engineers, professional baseball players, and retired professionals. On November 17, 1992 the Port St Lucie Police Department responded for the first time to the residence of $\square$ Port St Lucie, Florida Th e nature of the call was that of a disturbance created by an unwelcome person by the name of $\square$ Th e responding officers learned that Mr. $\square$ was the current boyfriend of $\square$ Seve $n$ days later, November 25, 1992, the police responded back to the residence only to take $\square$ into custody and admit him into a detoxification facility. On December 12, 1992, officers again responded to the $\square$ residence in reference to a domestic disturbance with property damage. Th e responding officers learned that a third party, $\square$ was at the residence creating a disturbance over $\square$ relationship with $\square$ Through the next 22 months the Port St. Lucie Police Department responded to the residence on 54 occasions. Eac $h$ occasion was a result of a domestic disturbance between two of the three parties, or all three parties. This ongoing behavior brought great concern to the police department Eac $h$ call for service required a minimum of two officers, and in most cases, a supervisor to respond. A pattern had developed where a majority of the disturbances were alcohol related, and the level of violence increased into reported stabbing, beatings, and self inflicted injuries. I t was only a matter of time before an officer would be injured or killed and/or one of the parties murdered. Not only was this a police problem, it had also been a problem for the neighbors. Eac $h$ time there was a disturbance the neighbors would be alerted, and their quality of life would be interrupted. Th e homeowners association initiated legal action against asking for her removal from the community. As the evening shift district supervisor for the St. Lucie West area,! realized that the routine response to the residence had not resolved the problem, and to continue to handle this situation in a similar manner would not resolve it either. In September of 1994 I began to analyze all the calls for service involving $\square$ I contacted the police department's Records Section and requested aJI written reports concerning these individuals. I then contacted the St. Lucie County Dispatch Accounting System and requested a record of all dispatched calls for service to $\square$ Drive. Within a few days I received all requested information. I then began to analyze each call for service and offense reports. Nex t I developed a chart showing the dates of the service call, cas e number, the type of incident, who the suspect was, the name of the victim, were there any injuries or weapons used, alcohol influence, and was there an incarceration. As a result, the report showed that there were 25 offense reports written, and a total of 54 police responses to that address. $96 \%$ were domestic related. Thi s report showed that $\square$ was classified as the suspect in $76 \%$ of the cases, and alcohol was a factor in $64 \%$ of the calls. $28 \%$ resulted in injuries, and $64 \%$ showed as the complainant/victim. Ther e were 16 arrests made, 15 of which were the arrest of $\square$ Th e report identified the problem as $\square$ and alcohol abuse. During the period of June, 1993 through April, 1994 police did not respond to the $\square$ residence. Durin g this period $\square$ was in the state of New York. Now that the problem was identified, a plan to resolve it had to be made and implemented. The solution to the problem was to prevent long-term contact between and and and to place into an alcohol treatment center. The only feasible way to accomplish this was to convince the judicial system into realizing that was a danger not only to but to anyone at Drive, and his need for extensive treatment for his alcoholism. In October, 1994, 1 met with St. Lucie County Judge . Judg e presided over all of misdemeanor cases. Judg e was given a copy of the report. After discussing the facts surrounding this problem, Judge agreed that the situation between and would only become worse. Judge advised that was still incarcerated and that he would revoke his current bond amount and place a "No Bond" order. Judg e then directed me to meet with the assistant state attorneys who were prosecuting A meeting was set with $\square$ Bot $h$ prosecuting attorneys were aware of this situation and concurred that it had to be resolved. Bot $h$ attorneys reviewed my report and requested that I testify on behalf of the state. On November 21, 1994, $\square$ was delivered from the County Jail to appear before Judge $\square$ in County Court. $\square$ agreed to a plea agreement and was sentenced to time served. H e was also placed on one year probation with the stipulation that he attend mandatory treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation facility. Additionally he was not to consume any alcoholic beverages and not to visit or reside at $\square$ Drive. Orr November 22, 1994, $\square$ was again delivered from the County Jail to appear before Circuit Court Judge $\square$ Thi s was a bond reduction hearing. had requested this hearing in order to obtain a lower bond so he would be released from jail pending his circuit court trial. I testified at this hearing, and my testimony was based on the information found in my report. Upo n completion of my testimony Judge $\square$ found $\square$ to be a danger to society and increased his bond from $\$ 5,000$ to $\$ 100,000$. was unable to post bond. On February 27, 1995 again appeared in circuit court for sentencing. $\qquad$ was sentenced to time served and placed on 4 Vn years probation. Hi s probation also included 6 months of alcohol rehabilitation in a state facility, and a 414 year restraining order prohibiting any association with $\qquad$ $\qquad$ $\square$ Since $\square$ release from the St. Lucie County Jail on February 27, 1995, the Port St. Lucie Police Department has responded to the $\square$ address on one occasion due to actions by $\square$ had placed a phone call to $\square$ which caused a disturbance between $\square$ and her current boyfriend. The violent relationship has now been terminated, and the probability of death or great bodily harm to either party has greatly diminished. Ou r police officers will no longer be subjected to the day-to-day violence caused by this couple, and their chances for injury have all but been eliminated. $\square$ is currently residing in the city of Fort Pierce ( 20 miles north of Port St. Lucie, Florida) and is undergoing alcohol abuse treatment. The agencies that assisted in this situation were the State Attorney's Office, 19th District, with Assistant State Attorney's $\square$ and $\square$ The judges that assisted were County $\square$ and Circuit Court Judge # PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA ## CONTENTS - Participants - Analytical Study - Analytical Finding s - Summary - Police Reports - Criminal Histories # FINDINGS On November 17, 1992, the Port St. Lucie Police Department started their first response to Drive, Port St. Lucie. Fro m that date to September, 1994, a total of twenty-five (25) written reports were taken which involved The following list the percentages of these incidents: V $96 \%$ were related to domestic dispute. V 76 \% classified as a suspect. V 20 \% classified as a suspect.