Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of the 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1 in the first two weeks of January, if not sooner, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
Photos for Headline Surfer / Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is shown with his deputy, Austin Rosa, who has been suspended with pay since his Sept. 4 arrest on domestic violence charges involving another deputy, the victim, who was Rosas's girlfriend.
BY HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A Volusia deputy arrested back in early September on domestic violence charges after an assault on his girlfriend, a fellow sheriff’s deputy who reported the incident to her supervisors the following day, remains suspended with pay while his criminal case continues through the courts.
VCSO Deputy Austin Rosa, 24, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and battery in the incident, which began in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, a Friday, off State Road 44 in the New Smyrna Beach area.
The victim reported that Rosa was driving them home from a bar after he had a large amount of alcohol, and he sped up and ran a red light at high speed. She demanded he stop and let her out, and he did.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described in a VCSO incident report: The victim said she walked down the road to get away from Rosa, and he followed. She said he grabbed her, yelled at her, and violently pulled her back toward the vehicle. The incident escalated when Rosa pushed the victim down and threatened to kill her. She said he also threatened to shoot and kill any law enforcement officers who responded if she called for help.
The victim was able to de-escalate the incident and rode home with Rosa without further incident. Later, upon reporting for work, she confided in her supervisor that she was a victim of domestic violence, and the Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation.
Deputies located Rosa at a friend’s apartment early the next day and took him into custody without incident.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood commended the victim for coming forward and said that Rosa’s violent, threatening behavior would not be tolerated.
“No one should have to endure that kind of abuse, especially at the hands of someone who’s sworn to protect others," Chitwood said in a written statement released through his PIOs. "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.”
“No one should have to endure that kind of abuse, especially at the hands of someone who’s sworn to protect others," Chitwood said in a written statement released through his PIOs. "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.”
Rosa’s firearm was taken as evidence and a risk protection order was completed, with an additional handgun seized from the couple’s shared apartment. Rosa was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bond.
Rosa spent two days in the Volusia County Branch Jail before he posted a $30,000 surety bond and was released. He's been placed on paid administrative leave pending completion of an Internal Affairs investigation as well as his criminal court case. Rosa had an arraignment on the felony charges on Jan. 5. If convicted, he could receive upwards of 30 years in state prison on felony charges.
Rosa was hired as a deputy in July 2020. He was previously employed with the New Smyrna Beach Polie Department for 10 months until July 2020. He was hired by Chitwood two months later.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.