Did alleged domestic abuser get help from Broward sheriff? When a woman went to Broward sheriffs deputies in July to report that she had been punched, the man she was accusing went straight to the deputies boss: Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. The man -- Jamie McDonnell, a campaign supporter of the sheriff -- phoned Israel at the same time 32-year-old Maria Rojas was reporting that he had pulled her hair and struck her on the head with a closed fist during an argument earlier that morning at her apartment. A deputy reported that she had a noticeable abrasion on her head. A 15-minute phone call between Israel, who was on vacation in Montana at the time, and McDonnell was followed by an Israel call to Weston District Chief Kevin Butler and then a call back to McDonnell by the sheriff. Later that morning there was a similar flurry of phone calls between the same parties. McDonnell supported Israels opponent, Al Lamberti, in the last election but has become a big supporter of Israel since his election, co-hosting a fundraiser for the sheriffs federal political committee at developer and garbage company owner Ron Bergerons ranch in April. Campaign records show that a company owned by McDonnells brother contributed $10,000 to the political committee and Israel reported to the state that McDonnell had been given tickets to a Billy Joel concert worth $330 in January. Israel refused an interview request, but BSO spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said that the sheriff encouraged McDonnell to go to the substation and report his side of the story. She said he contacted Butler to advise him on the situation. She said no preferential treatment was given to McDonnell. Deputies did not arrest McDonnell after Rojas, who said she and McDonnell had been dating for seven years, alleged he physically attacked her during an argument that ensued after he came to the apartment where she lived with her mother early that morning. McDonnell apparently took the sheriffs advice and gave a statement at the substation, where he alleged that it was Rojas who attacked him, slapping him and throwing keys at him. There were no signs of injury on McDonnell. In reports, deputies cited as reasons for not arresting McDonnell that Rojas didnt want to prosecute McDonnell on battery charges and the fact that there were no witnesses. Attempts to contact McDonnell were unsuccessful with messages unreturned. His attorney, Herb Cohen, said McDonnell denied calling the sheriff at all on the matter.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 03:17:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015