A Palm Beach County Fire Rescue firefighter is facing a domestic battery charge after what started as an annual birthday celebration at the South Florida Fairgrounds turned into a physical struggle between him and the mother of his child. Christopher D. Pica, 43, was arrested on Saturday and booked on a charge of domestic touch or strike following the altercation in West Palm Beach.
According to WPBF, a deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at the fairgrounds, located at 9067 Southern Boulevard, on October 24. The woman involved told investigators she shares a child with Pica but was not in a relationship with him, and the pair had planned to attend the fairgrounds event together, as they reportedly do every year to mark Pica's birthday.
The victim told the responding deputy that the situation turned physical after an argument and said she had gone back to her vehicle to hand Pica his keys and a cooler so he could leave, per the report cited by the outlet. She also described Pica as appearing intoxicated and acting unusually that night, according to the sheriff's report.
Conflicting Accounts of the Struggle
The victim said Pica grabbed her by the throat with one hand, placed his other hand on her forehead, and pinned her against a car. She told investigators she kicked him in the face while he held her, and that he then wrestled her to the ground. She said Pica did not punch her.
A witness backed up much of that account, telling deputies that Pica pushed the victim onto the car with one hand on her throat and the other on her forehead, and that the victim's kick left a cut on Pica's lip. A second witness said separately that Pica was seen with a hand around the victim's neck as he slid her across the car and onto the ground, the station's report notes.
Pica offered a different version of events. He initially denied pinning the victim against the car, telling the deputy that the victim had shoved his belongings into him and come at him, and that she kicked him in the face and cut his lip. He later said the car door was open and the two fell over together. Pica ultimately acknowledged pushing the victim but denied ever placing his hands around her neck or forehead.
For her part, the victim said she was not injured, did not lose consciousness and was not afraid of Pica, according to the same account relayed to deputies.
Release, No-Contact Order and Fire Rescue's Response
Palm Beach County jail records indicate Pica was released from custody the following Sunday afternoon, and a court ordered him not to have any contact with the victim. The sheriff's office arrest report listed his occupation as a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue firefighter.
Pica informed Palm Beach County Fire Rescue of his legal situation, and the department placed him on administrative leave with pay on Monday. Fire Rescue said it does not discuss open investigations, law enforcement matters or cases involving pending litigation, per the report.
Under Florida law, battery occurs when a person intentionally touches or strikes another person against that person's will, and the offense is generally charged as a first-degree misdemeanor, according to the Florida Legislature. No further details on the disposition of Pica's case have been released.
