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Volusia sheriff's deputy arrested for domestic violence against fellow deputy

News-Journal - 9/7/2021

A Volusia County Sheriff's deputy was arrested on domestic violence charges after an assault on his girlfriend, who is also a sheriff's deputy.

Deputy Austin Rosa, 24, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and battery after he threatened to kill his girlfriend or shoot and kill any law enforcement officers who responded if she called for help, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office.

"No one should have to endure that kind of abuse, especially at the hands of someone who's sworn to protect others," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood in a press release. "It's a black mark for all of us who wear the same badge, but I'm proud of the quick work our deputies did to put this deputy behind bars just like anyone else."

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The victim told police that Rosa was driving them home early Friday morning from a bar after he had a large amount of alcohol, at which point he sped up and ran a red light at high speed. The victim demanded that he stop and let her out, which he did.

But then Rosa followed her as she walked down S.R. 44 in the New Smyrna Beach area, the release stated, when he yelled at her, grabbed her and "violently" pulled her back toward the vehicle. That's when Rosa pushed her down and threatened to kill her and other officers, she told deputies.

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The victim was able to de-escalate the situation and rode home with Rosa without further incident, the Sheriff's Office reported. When she got to work later on Friday she informed her supervisor that she was a victim of domestic violence, and an investigation began.

Deputies found Rosa at a friend's apartment early on Saturday, and he was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bond. His firearm was taken as evidence and another handgun was seized from the apartment he shared with the victim, the release stated.

The News-Journal's policy is to not name victims of domestic violence.

Rosa was hired as a deputy in July 2020.

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