Florida Police Accused of Imprisoning Son over Potty Training Mishaps

Florida Police Officers Accused of Putting Toddler in Jail Cell Face Investigation

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police officers in Florida are under investigation for allegedly placing their 3 1/2-year-old son in a jail cell as a form of punishment for potty training accidents. Despite the serious accusations, these officers remain on duty while the investigation unfolds.

Nearly nine months have passed since the incident took place, yet the Daytona Beach Shores Police Department has remained tight-lipped about the matter. Moreover, most records pertaining to the investigation have been sealed by a judge in Volusia County, further adding to the mystery surrounding this case.

Tammy Marzik, the city’s public information officer, explained in an email to The AP that due to a court order, the city is currently unable to comment on the situation. However, she assured that the city strives to maintain transparency and would be open to discussing the matter should anything change.

According to the couple involved, they confined their son in a jail cell on two separate occasions, on October 5 and 6 of last year. State child abuse investigators, accompanied by a Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy wearing a body camera, interviewed the couple in their home. The footage of this conversation was initially released by the sheriff’s office but was later retracted due to the court order preventing the disclosure of information related to the case.

For privacy reasons, The Associated Press has refrained from disclosing the names of the child and parents involved, except to mention that the mother is a detective, while the father holds the rank of lieutenant in the Daytona Beach Shores Police. Their lawyer, Michael Lambert, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

During the hour-long video, the child’s mother argued that they had done nothing wrong, stating that the situation had been misconstrued by others. She described the ongoing investigation as “the definition of insanity.”

The manner in which the state learned about the treatment the child received remains undisclosed. However, the child’s father expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that it was disgraceful for their family to be dragged through such mud.

The father explained that their childcare facility mandates that children be potty trained by the age of three. Despite the leniency shown by the school, the child continued to have accidents. As a result, the parents resorted to various methods to assist with toilet training, including books and allowing the child to roam without pants.

Eventually, the parents confronted the child, using the father’s line of work as leverage. The father, explaining his thought process, said, “I said you know what I do for a living. I said I’m a cop. I take bad boys to the jail that don’t follow the law. So that’s what I did. I said you know you aren’t following the rules, let’s go to jail.”

The father verified that he ensured the cell was free of contraband before placing his son inside. He noted that his son was held in the cell for approximately 13 minutes and emphasized that he maintained continuous visual contact with him during this time.

Admitting to a similar act involving their older child nine years ago, the father explained that such disciplinary measures had produced the desired outcomes in the past. According to him, his older child never engaged in similar misconduct again after being briefly confined in a jail cell.

The repercussions faced by the couple, if any, are currently unclear. However, they have brought their grievances to court, suing the state attorney’s office in March and separately suing State Attorney R.J. Larizza in May. These legal proceedings have been marked confidential by a judge and sealed by the city clerk’s office.

Lonnie Groot, a former city attorney for Daytona Beach Shores, now acting as a community watchdog, has been pressing for answers. However, his efforts to access additional records related to the investigation have thus far been unsuccessful.

Groot expressed concerns, stating, “The City is just patently trying to hide the matter and hopes now that it will go away and they can go back to their old ways.”

As the investigation continues, questions remain about the extent of the couple’s actions and the potential consequences they may face. The Florida Department of Children and Families has confirmed that it responds to all allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, with all relevant information remaining confidential.

The AP has reported on this story with utmost awareness of copyright regulations. Redistribution or unauthorized use of this material is strictly prohibited without permission from The Associated Press.