A Martin County sheriff's deputy is facing criminal charges after what started as a runaway call in Port St. Lucie ended with the deputy himself in handcuffs, authorities said. The deputy, identified as Emmanuel Perez, was arrested Thursday following a domestic incident involving his 15-year-old daughter.
Police say Perez first called for help to report that his daughter was trying to run away. Officers located the teen and brought her back home. After that, a second confrontation reportedly turned physical. Perez was taken into custody and placed on paid administrative leave from the sheriff's office. He faces charges of domestic battery and child abuse without physical harm and is scheduled for his first court appearance later Thursday.
What police say
According to Port St. Lucie officers, it was that second encounter at the home that led to the arrest. The teen told investigators Perez pulled her hair and yanked on her jacket, leaving visible marks, according to probable-cause details. As reported by WPBF, Martin County's sheriff relayed those allegations to Port St. Lucie police.
Officers had initially responded only because Perez reported that his daughter was attempting to run away, WPBF notes. It was the later physical confrontation, described in those probable-cause details, that prompted officers to arrest the deputy.
Legal context
Florida law addresses battery and related offenses in state assault and battery statutes; see the Florida Statutes for the battery provisions. Child-abuse offenses are outlined in a separate section of the Florida Statutes, which includes charges that do not require visible physical injuries.
Under those laws, the severity of charges and potential penalties can shift based on factors such as prior convictions and whether prosecutors decide to upgrade counts because of injury levels or alleged intent.
Next steps
Officials say Perez is set for an initial appearance in Port St. Lucie, where a judge will review the charges. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has placed him on paid administrative leave while the investigation unfolds.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department and the sheriff’s office have not yet released full public records in the case. For now, WPBF's coverage remains the main on-the-record account of the incident. This story will be updated as booking logs, court filings or formal statements from either agency become available.
