A Kissimmee Police Department lieutenant faces charges after her arrest during a weekend domestic incident.
Lt. Erika Castellucci was arrested early Sunday morning by the St. Cloud Police Department, and has been placed on leave pending the outcome of her charges per a KPD release. According to court records, Castellucci was charged with battery, a misdemeanor, and false imprisonment, a felony. She was released from jail Monday on a $3,000 bond, and scheduled for an initial court appearance this week.
“The City of Kissimmee Police Department takes Domestic Violence allegations seriously, especially when it involves one of the agency’s members,” the KPD release said. “Due to this being an open and active investigation, the Department is unable to release any additional information and will not be providing any interviews or other comments at this time.”
According to the arrest affidavit, soon after midnight Sunday, Castellucci and her partner, who will not be named in this story as a victim of domestic violence, got into a verbal argument at their St. Cloud home after drinking several glasses of wine. Her partner called a ride to pick her up, who arrived minutes later and saw the two physically struggle, with Castellucci ripping the partner’s sweater in an attempt to keep her from leaving.
The ride contacted St. Cloud Police, who responded and found Castellucci uncooperative during investigation. Her partner said Castelluci kept her from leaving the bedroom, where the altercation began, but let her leave when officers arrived. Castelluci maintained the two made accidental contact in the bedroom and she fell “due to her being intoxicated and she grasped (her partner’s) sweater in an attempt to stop from falling,” the report said.
This is the second announced arrest of a KPD officer in the last two weeks, on Nov. 15, the agency announced that Ofc. Luis Perez was charged with written threats against his ex-girlfriend. He was relieved of duty pending a criminal investigation.
And on Nov. 9, Osceola County Sheriff ’s Deputy Kevin Encarnacion was arrested, and later terminated, for being an accessory after the fact for his role in trying to cover up his cousin’s October domestic violence arrest.
This is a developing story. Check back with AroundOsceola.com for further updates.
