ST. CLOUD, Fla. – St. Cloud police have arrested an Osceola County deputy in what they are calling a dating violence incident.
Rafael Sanchez, 45, is charged with battery, stalking and grand theft in the Tuesday night incident.
Police said they were called to a home after an argument escalated and Sanchez grabbed the victim's face and choked her before throwing her iPhone into a retention pond.
In a written statement to police, the victim said she had been trying to break off the six-month relationship with Sanchez.
The two are both married to other people. The victim's husband is a reserve deputy for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
The report states Sanchez showed up to the victim's home in his patrol car uninvited around 9 p.m. Tuesday to talk about their relationship. The victim said an argument began between the two of them.
At one point, according to the report, Sanchez walked outside and stood by his patrol car with the victim's cellphone.
The report states the two then walked back inside the home. That's when the victim reports Sanchez became violent. After breaking free, she told police Sanchez said a few words and left.
The report said she called her husband, who is out of the country and told her to call police. A report was filed the next day.
News 6 read through Sanchez's past and current personnel files. Sanchez worked for the Kissimmee Police Department from 2008-2011. While there he received reprimands for two minor car accidents, speeding, loss of his department-issued Taser and other non-violent infractions.
His file also showed he was also reprimanded for language he used with a citizen.
In the past two years Sanchez has received an above average and moderate average grade for his yearly reviews with Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
A letter of appreciation was also in his file. A citizen wrote in thanking Officer Sanchez and another officer for their help with his son.
Sanchez was booked Wednesday into the Osceola County Jail, where he was held with no bond. He has since been released.
Sanchez was hired by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office in February 2014.