What started as a domestic dispute in Belle Glade ended with a frantic run to a church, a gun struggle on the lawn, and an arrest miles away in Royal Palm Beach, according to sheriff’s deputies.
Deputies say a woman fled her home and ran to Mount Calvary Baptist Church carrying a small child and a firearm after she said her estranged partner threatened her. A short time later, deputies stopped a pickup in Royal Palm Beach and arrested 33-year-old Michael A. Davis, who is being held in the Palm Beach County jail.
The victim told deputies Davis forced her into a bedroom, pulled out a handgun, and demanded she hand over her phone. She said he used the weapon to keep her from leaving and struck her on the top of the head with it. According to the report, she grabbed the child and bolted once Davis briefly walked away and left the gun on a counter. Deputies collected photographs and doorbell-camera footage that captured portions of the encounter, as reported by WPBF.
When the woman reached Mount Calvary Baptist Church, staff members became involved. They struggled with Davis over the gun, which fell into the grass, and the victim told investigators he picked the firearm back up and took off in a white truck. Deputies later stopped that vehicle at a shopping plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Social video shows three deputies and a PBSO K-9 subduing Davis as he yells, “You got me.” He later appeared before a judge and was booked on multiple counts tied to the incident, including domestic aggravated assault and child-neglect allegations, according to WPBF.
Charges and Custody
Court records and the booking report list several charges connected to the case, including alleged aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon and multiple counts of child neglect along with other offenses. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office lists the West Detention Center in Belle Glade among its custody facilities and maintains a victim-witness resource page for people affected by domestic violence. The sheriff’s office is the primary agency handling both the investigation and custody. More information is available from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
What the Law Says
Under Florida law, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is addressed in the state’s aggravated-assault statute, and neglect of a child without great bodily harm is covered in the child-abuse and neglect statute. Each offense can be prosecuted as a felony. See Florida Senate for Florida Statutes §784.021 on aggravated assault and Justia for §827.03 on child abuse and neglect. Third-degree felonies in Florida generally carry maximum penalties that can include up to five years in prison and fines under the state’s sentencing rules.
Help and Next Steps
The case remains under investigation and will move through the Palm Beach County court system. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office. PBSO posts victim resources and contact information on its website for people who need help or want to report tips, accessible through the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
