Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis told a Broward judge on Wednesday that he no longer considers his former partner a threat, prompting the court to scale back the non-contact injunction he filed last year. Appearing virtually, the mayor kept his remarks tightly focused on that point and declined to delve into the state of the relationship. The underlying criminal case is still active, but has been shifted out of Broward County to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
Mayor's courtroom comments
Trantalis described the situation as “very complicated” and said he no longer viewed Daniel Curran as a danger, according to Local 10. The outlet reported that its crew was inside the courtroom when the judge agreed to modify the order. Afterward, Trantalis spoke briefly with a reporter by phone, reiterating that he would not offer further personal details.
What police records say about the alleged attack
Court and arrest records from last fall state that Curran allegedly pushed Trantalis, then grabbed his leg and dragged him about 15 feet across a roadway, leaving the mayor with injuries to his wrist, left leg and right knee, WSVN reported. Officers later arrested Curran after spotting him in the mayor’s driveway, and authorities say he was charged with violating the injunction and with battery on a person 65 or older.
Governor reassigns the prosecution
To avoid a perceived conflict, the state has formally reassigned the case. Executive Order 25-248, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Dec. 11, 2025, directs that Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle be assigned to oversee the investigation and prosecution in Broward, according to a filing from the Executive Office of the Governor. The order states that the assignment takes effect immediately and will run for one year as a safeguard for impartiality in a case involving an elected official.
Charges, bond and next steps
Curran is charged with a felony count of battery on a person 65 or older and with violating a protection order. A judge set his bond at $6,000 and ordered that he have no contact with the mayor and possess no weapons, according to earlier reporting from the time of his arrest. As the criminal case continues under the executive assignment, motions from the defense and prosecution and upcoming court hearings will determine how the case unfolds, according to reporting by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Mayor's privacy and the public record
Trantalis told Local 10 that he views the matter as personal and would not elaborate when reached by phone, and he has previously said he tried to help his former partner seek counseling. The reassignment of the case and the easing of the protective order mark the latest public developments in a saga that began with court filings and an arrest in November 2025.
Background
Hoodline covered the initial arrest and restraining-order filings last November, which first pushed the private relationship into public view. This week’s hearing and the governor’s executive order are the newest turns in that story, including the formal transfer of prosecutorial responsibility. For those tracking the legal timeline, the governor’s executive order and the court docket remain the key documents to watch for future updates.
