Bill Long
Patrick Fulton
Posted on 05/16/2006 3:26:30 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
DELAND -- County Councilman Bill Long was arrested early this afternoon on a domestic violence charge after he was accused of striking former domestic partner Patrick Fulton and then damaging Fulton's DeBary home, a Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman said.
An aggravated stalking complaint also has been referred to the State Attorney's Office by deputies.
Long, 43, was arrested at about 2:20 p.m. and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach for processing, the spokesman said.
Bill Long Patrick Fulton |
The arrest grew out an incident the night before that began when Long is accused of striking Fulton at the Cheers lounge in DeBary. Fulton, who wasn't injured, told deputies Long left the bar but returned later and made threats about Fulton's home, the spokesman said.
When Fulton, a DeBary City Councilman, arrived home at 11:51 p.m. he discovered a broken window and damage to the front door. He called deputies, who found a pair of sunglasses on the ground by the front door -- the same sunglasses Fulton said Long was wearing earlier in the day.
Fulton initially told deputies that he didn’t want to press criminal charges. However, he changed his mind and contacted the Sheriff’s Office at about 4 a.m. today after he said he received several harassing phone calls from Long. Fulton told deputies he feared for his safety.
Deputies initially planned to charge Long with simple battery. However, Sheriff’s investigators amended the complaint this morning after confirming that the nature of Long’s personal relationship with Fulton met the statutory definition for a domestic violence charge, the spokesman said.
County Judge Peter Marshall signed the arrest warrant this afternoon calling for Long to be taken into custody and held at the Branch Jail without bond. Long was arrested at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he was visiting a friend.
Long and Fulton, who ended a 13 1/2-year relationship in 2004, have been involved in several domestic disputes this year, including one on New Year's Day. In March, a fire broke out in one wing of the Altman-Long Funeral Home and Crematory in DeBary, which the two men own. Long and Fulton said they had no involvment although investigators said the fire had been deliberately set.
A day or two after the fire, the men had a heated discussion, and Fulton left his job as funeral director, but still owns the crematory business. Fulton said he is now funeral director at Collison Funeral Home and Crematory in Sanford.
Long has publicly admitted to having a drinking problem, said he sought treatment for alcohol abuse and has seen a psychiatrist for manic depression. Prior to today's arrest, Long said he planned to seek re-election in November.
Were his claws retracted? LOL
How queer? ER..I mean strange.
(D)?
Why, who'da thunkit?
Blame it on the alligators.
Son: "Mommy, Mommy, the boys outside are calling me a sissy"
Mommy: "Well hit them with your purse son, hit them with your purse!"
I thought the queers loved that sadomasochistic stuff.
Why did he just strike him? Why didn't he just eat his flesh? Now he's gone and waisted his chance to get a free dinner.
Welcome to Florida.
You can't make this stuff up...
Trouble in paradise.
a slap and a spanking!
Who got custody of the poodle?
Oh oh. Now #8 seems only too real. I was just being sarcastic. Now, I'm freaked out!
He has access to a lot of dead democrat voters.
Guess which one plays the female role. I can tell just looking at the pictures.
Awwww! I like a good love story!
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