Domestic violence arrests drop during pandemic

Domestic violence cases have dropped in Orange County and the city of Orlando since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, law enforcement officials reported late Friday, but authorities said they are braced for the numbers to climb when normalcy returns.

“Back when COVID began and the [Orange County] mayor put in place the stay-at-home order, we saw an even more significant decrease,” said Orange County Sheriff John Mina. “We believe that’s because the abused didn’t have the opportunity to go to work and maybe tell a co-worker . ... Since the stay at home has been lifted … you see less of a decrease.”

Mina made his remarks before the Orange County Domestic Violence Commission, convened by Mayor Jerry Demings. In the county, there were 875 domestic violence arrests from the end of March to the end of July, compared to 967 for the same time a year ago — about a 10 percent drop.

For the city, domestic violence arrests were down 12 percent, said Orlando Police Department’s Deputy Chief Jose Velez, who added that the closure of bars and a lack of tourists may have contributed to the decline.

Visitors account for around 5 percent of domestic violence cases in the county, commissioners said.

Despite the overall drop, particularly in misdemeanor charges, Capt. Mary Huggins of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office noted a slight uptick — 1 percent — in domestic violence felony arrests, including homicides.

In June, Orange County deputies arrested three family members in connection with the death of a 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy. Her body had been found in early April. Detectives said she had been beaten and tortured.

Michelle Sperzel, CEO of the anti-domestic violence agency Harbor House of Central Florida, said her agency continued to see a high volume of calls during the