Deputy faces charge for domestic battery

A longtime Osceola County deputy was arrested early Sunday after his girlfriend was found with a swollen lip and eye, according to Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson.

Gibson offered details on the arrest during an afternoon press conference, including that the deputy, Michael Keating, had faced a charge last year on similar allegations.

It is also the second Osceola County deputy who has been arrested on a domestic violence charge within a month.

Deputies responded about 3:15 a.m. Sunday to a home near St. Cloud that Keating shares with his girlfriend.

The girlfriend, whose name hasn’t been released, was found with superficial injuries, including a swollen lip, along with swelling and bruising to her right eye, Gibson said.

Keating was arrested on a domestic battery charge.

“It makes you sit back and wonder, what are people thinking, especially being a seasoned law enforcement officer, that you would find yourself in this situation, so it’s puzzling,” Gibson said.

Gibson said Keating “has many accolades” at the Sheriff’s Office, adding he helped train Keating when he was hired.

The pair also worked side-byside in the homicide unit, Gibson said.

Toward the end of 2016, Keating was accused in a domestic violence case in Brevard County involving the same woman. He wasn’t arrested, Gibson said. Brevard County deputies sent their findings to the State Attorney’s Office, where charges were filed against Keating.

The woman told the State Attorney’s Office she did not want to prosecute and refused to cooperate, so prosecutors did not follow through with the case, Gibson said.

Keating was placed under internal investigation at the Sheriff’s Office. It’s unclear whether he faced any discipline, but Gibson noted the investigation revealed the “charges were sustained.”

Gibson said his deputies do their best “to prevent violence from continuing” in the community, and he won’t tolerate that behavior.

“As a deputy sheriff, you’re held to me at a higher standard and we’re not going to condone that whatsoever,” he said.

Keating has worked as a homicide detective, undercover drug agent, property crimes detective and patrol deputy. Gibson said Keating will be placed on administrative leave without pay as they conduct an internal investigation.

This is the second Osceola County deputy within a month who was suspended due to a domestic violence arrest.

Richard Ortiz-Gotay, 34, who has been with the department for two years, was arrested July 18 after a heated argument with his wife, an arrest affidavit shows.

Authorities say Ortiz-Gotay dragged his wife from a car, pushed her against a wall and slammed her head into the wall.

Ortiz-Gotay grabbed the phone away from his wife when she threatened to call for help, an arrest report states.

He was placed on leave after the incident.