JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office correctional officer was arrested Monday and accused of domestic battery, according to JSO Director of Investigations Mark Romano.
JSO identified the officer as Corrections Lieutenant Alphonso Waddell, who has been working with the agency for 14 years and 10 months.
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Romano said officers responded to reports of a domestic dispute around 1:30 a.m. at Waddell’s home. According to JSO, the complainant told officers Waddell had grabbed their throat while they were on the phone.
A child was present at the time of the incident, who corroborated the complainant’s report. The child was not physically harmed, JSO said.
Police did not identify the victim.
Waddell was arrested and charged with first-degree domestic battery, a misdemeanor. He has been stripped of his authority as a correctional officer and was placed on administrative status.
According to a national victim’s advocacy group called Connections for Abused Women and their Children, the holidays bring stressors that cause a surge in domestic violence incidents.
Those stressors include emotional stress brought on by holiday expectations and Increased alcohol consumption.
Here in Jacksonville, the CEO of Hubbard House, Gail Patin said they are seeing a different domestic violence trend.
“Unfortunately, domestic violence remains high throughout the year so, we do not see an uptick in numbers during the holidays,” Patin said. “In Jacksonville this past year, there were more than 8,500 police reports due to domestic violence. As you can tell, the numbers are high regardless of the time of year.”
Tom Hackney, News4JAX crime and safety analyst said there have been law enforcement studies that look into incidents that have led up to domestic violence turning fatal.
He said JSO looks at those incidents as red flag markers to prevent a domestic murder.
“The Sheriff’s Office herein Jacksonville reviews those from the invests team daily and they look for those warning signs to have a chance to intervene in some of those cases before they wind up in a domestic murder,” Hackney said.
If you or someone you know in Northeast Florida is a victim of domestic abuse, you can call the Hubbard House at 904-354-3114 or text at 904-210-3698 24 hours a day.
“I want every survivor out there listening to know there is help. There is hope and we are here for you,” Patin said.
An internal investigation will begin following the conclusion of the criminal case, according to JSO.
This arrest marks the 16th arrest of a JSO employee this year.
