Off‑duty law‑enforcement personnel was arrested after surveillance footage captured him assaulting an elderly couple inside a local bar.
The incident involved a sergeant who had served the sheriff’s office since 2004. Video shows him approaching a 71‑year‑old woman seated near the bar and creating unwanted contact before the couple’s 77‑year‑old husband intervened.
The sheriff’s office released a statement condemning the sergeant’s conduct and offering an apology to the victims.
New Smyrna Beach Police responded to a report of a fight at approximately 4:20 p.m. and apprehended the sergeant on charges related to the altercation. No injuries were reported.
Footage indicates the sergeant first struck the woman, then attacked her husband after he attempted to stop him.
Witness accounts and an affidavit describe an attempted kiss, a throat grab, and a waitress who stepped in to separate the parties.
A bystander on a nearby table subdued the sergeant with a chokehold, bringing him to the ground before police arrival.
When officers arrived, the sergeant identified himself, displayed his badge, and was placed on administrative leave while his law‑enforcement equipment was surrendered pending disciplinary action.
He faces two felony battery charges and was released on bond after posting a surety payment.
