Osceola County Sheriff's Office: Off-duty deputy fired after arrest on warrant charging him with domestic violence by strangulation of his wife

Headline Surfer photo image provided by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office / Fired OCSO Deputy John Macerelli faces a felony charge of domestic violence by strangulation.

By HENRY FREDERICK Headline Surfer

KISSISSIMMEE, Fla. --  The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received reports that one of its deputies had been abusive towards his spouse and was subsequently fired on Friday after his arrest on a warrant charging him with domestic battery by strangulation of his spouse.

The Sheriff’s Office immediately notified its Criminal Investigations  Division, which began to investigate the reports. From that investigation, detectives gathered enough evidence to obtain a warrant for the arrest of 38-year-old Deputy John Macerelli for domestic battery by strangulation, a felony charge. 

Macerelli, who is presumed innocent, could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, if convicted of the felony charge in court.

"This incident happened while he was off-duty, and there is no prior employee misconduct involving Deputy  Macerelli with the agency," an OCSO spokesperson said in an emailed press release to Headline Surfer and other Central Florida media outlets. "The reports of this crime came as a complete shock to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Macerelli was a newer employee and was still working on probationary status, so he was terminated immediately after the warrant was executed for his arrest."

The name of the alleged victim - Maccerelli's spouse - was not released by the OCSO.

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez was direct in his decision to fire his deputy once the arrest warrant was served on .   

“I have zero tolerance for domestic violence and zero tolerance for law enforcement violating the same laws they are sworn to uphold," Lopez said. "This case serves as an important reminder that "no one is above the law. The Osceola County Sheriff’s  Office will continue in our mission to protect the community by holding people accountable for their actions, no matter who they are or what they do for a living.  

Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez was direct in his decision to fire the deputy after the arrest warrant was served: “I have zero tolerance for domestic violence and zero tolerance for law enforcement violating the same laws they are sworn to uphold. This case serves as an important reminder that "no one is above the law. The Osceola County Sheriff’s  Office will continue in our mission to protect the community by holding people accountable for their actions, no matter who they are or what they do for a living.  

Anyone with information related to this case or any other similar incidents is asked to please call the Osceola  County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 348-2222.