Even as the sheriff stresses de-escalation before arrests, ordinary family members are losing tempers and acting violently at home in collateral consequences of the coronavirus emergency, as this weekend’s repeated examples from Palm Coast illustrate.
domestic violence
Man Shoots Himself In the Mouth With Deputies at the Door to Arrest Him on Domestic Assault Charges
Gary Hills, 68, of 71 Sandy Beach Walk in north Flagler, had allegedly held his wife hostage overnight after beating her, holding a gun to her head and threatening to kill her, the dog and himself, before shooting himself just as deputies were knocking at his door Wednesday morning.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Threatening Ex’s Life Over Food Stamps Card at Her Workplace
Travis Montrell Williams, 40, is accused of going to his ex-girlfriend’s workplace at an assisted living facility in Palm Coast and threatening her life over the food stamps card she had. The sheriff assisted in the arrest.
Judge Sets Stern Ground Rules Ahead of Keith Johansen Murder Trial in Shooting Death of Brandi Celenza
The trial judge admonished the families of both Brandi Celenza and Keith Johansen after a hearing where he’d ruled on admitting or limiting variously disturbing evidence-and prohibiting prejudicial courtroom antics in the gallery.
‘Shocked and Gravely Concerned,’ Domestic Violence Leaders Support Investigations and Seek to Reassure Donors
Trish Giaccone, who heads Flagler County’s shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence, issued a pair of letters supporting the ongoing investigations in the state domestic violence agency’s spending and pledging transparency.
Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s “Exorbitant Compensation Payouts” Under Fire
The governor asked state Inspector General Melinda Miguel to investigate the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s “exorbitant compensation payouts” and “abuse of state dollars” to determine if any criminal wrongdoing has occurred at the organization.
A Case of Bruising Corporal Punishment Is Deemed Child Abuse and a 46-Year-Old Father Is Jailed
Ramon Pardo, 45, faces a felony child abuse charge after school authorities alerted DCF of bruising on his 10-year-old son’s body, the result of a “spanking” with a belt because the child had allegedly lied.
Michael Cummings Pleads to Murdering Ex-Wife at Palm Coast Home and Faces 30 Years to Life in Prison
Days from his trial on a first-degree murder charge, Michael Cummings, 48, pleaded to second degree murder in the death of Faith Cummings, 44, at their Point Pleasant home in Palm Coast in January 2018.
Turning Down Plea Offer, Michael Cummings Will Be Tried Nov. 18 on Wife’s Murder
Michael Cummings is accused of murdering his ex-wife at the house they shared on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast in November 2018. Faith Cummings, 44, was found bludgeoned and asphyxiated.
Appeals Court Upholds Attempted Murder Conviction of Jonathan Canales, Who’s Serving Life Term
Jonathan Canales, now 32, was convicted of shooting his live-in girlfriend and the mother of three young children in the neck in their Daytona North trailer in 2014. His appeal focused on his prior acts of domestic violence toward the victim, saying thay should not have been admitted at trial.