‘Say you were drinking’: Fort Lauderdale cop accused of attacking pregnant girlfriend while on duty

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Fort Lauderdale constabulary serviceman is facing a drawstring of felony charges aft authorities said helium assaulting his large woman portion connected work and successful azygous this past weekend.

Officer Timothy Skaggs, 40, was arrested and charged with aggravated artillery of a large victim, mendacious imprisonment, 2 counts of home battery, 2 counts of witnesser tampering, and 2 counts of robbery by abrupt snatching with a firearm oregon weapon, according to a constabulary study obtained by Local 10 News connected Wednesday.

The charges stem from an incidental connected May 17 erstwhile officers were called to a location adjacent the 1500 artifact of West Commercial Boulevard conscionable aft 3 p.m. successful notation to a home disturbance.

A pistillate told constabulary that Skaggs, her fellow of 2 and a fractional years, had struck her aggregate times earlier fleeing the scene, according to the report.

The pistillate told investigators the altercation began the nighttime earlier erstwhile Skaggs arrived astatine her flat and they argued implicit his infidelity issues.

She said that aft asking him to leave, Skaggs grabbed her phone, pushed her onto the furniture and told her to halt contacting people, the study stated.

Authorities said soon after, Skaggs pinned her down, grabbed her wrist and forced her ain fist into her look aggregate times. He besides attempted to strangle her, though constabulary noted it was not with “extreme force.”

She said the onslaught occurred portion her children were successful different country and heard her yelling for help. The pistillate managed to flight and called 911 from her son’s telephone aft Skaggs fled, according to police.

Investigators said the pistillate besides told officers she was respective weeks large and had shown Skaggs a affirmative gestation trial earlier that day. She said helium was successful afloat constabulary azygous astatine the clip of the attack.

Skaggs, of Boynton Beach, aboriginal admitted during a telephone call, monitored by police, that helium knew astir the pregnancy, and pleaded with the pistillate to retract her statement.

“I americium going to suffer my job,” helium said, according to the report. “Call them now. Negate everything. Say you were drinking.”

The unfortunate told detectives she had antecedently been abused by Skaggs and had documented bruises from earlier incidents. One of her children confirmed proceeding “banging” and their parent yelling during the encounter, the study stated.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Chief William Schultz said successful a connection that Skaggs was placed connected paid administrative permission pursuing his arrest.

“In accordance with departmental argumentation and procedures, Timothy Skaggs was instantly placed connected administrative leave, with pay, pending ceremonial charges filed by the State Attorney’s Office,” Schultz said. “At the decision of these transgression proceedings, a afloat interior probe volition beryllium conducted by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Office of Internal Affairs.”

Schultz added, “The alleged behaviour volition not beryllium tolerated and is not typical of the men and women of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.”

Jail records amusement Skaggs is being held connected a $32,000 bond. He appeared successful enslaved tribunal connected Wednesday, wherever a justice ordered him to person nary interaction with the victim, not instrumentality to her apartment, and to surrender immoderate guns oregon weapons successful his possession.

It is unclear wherefore Skaggs had been antecedently placed connected an 180-day suspension by the department.

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