Grand Old Police Blotter: Chuck and Duck Edition

In Osceola County, Florida, Republican County Commissioner the Honorable Chuck Dunnick discovered the right to privacy early last Saturday morning. The Road to Damascus for Chuck was a small holding cell with a stainless steel commode welded to the floor:

An Osceola County commissioner and his wife, who have a history of domestic violence, both were drinking when they had an argument that resulted in him lifting her from the bed of his pickup and slamming her to the ground, a sheriff's report says.

Chuck Dunnick, 50, spent early Saturday in jail after deputies arrested him on misdemeanor charges of battering his wife, Lee. Dunnick was arrested about 1:45 a.m. He was released at 10 a.m. on $2,000 bail.

As he left the Osceola County Jail, he asked people to pray for his family and respect their privacy.

Lee Dunnick, 55, told investigators she was afraid of her husband because "he can get away with things" because of his position.

According to the sheriff's report, the couple, who have been married nearly 21 years and have two daughters, have a history of domestic violence. In October 1999, Dunnick's stepdaughter called 911 to report the couple were fighting. The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office did not prosecute, partly because Lee Dunnick didn't want the case pursued.

On Friday, Lee Dunnick told investigators she got upset when her husband refused to tell her why he failed to meet her as planned. She said she climbed into the bed of his pickup at their home east of St. Cloud about 6 p.m. and dumped beer from a cooler, the report states.

Lee Dunnick told investigators her 5-foot-11, 170-pound husband grabbed her by the neck and shirt, lifted her over the side of the truck and slammed her onto the ground. Two T-shirts she was wearing were torn, and one had blood on the sleeve, the report states. Afterward, she told investigators, they went inside and she threw glasses at him. She didn't require hospitalization and he wasn't hurt, authorities said.

...

Chuck Dunnick, a commissioner since 1992, told investigators that when he got home, his wife shouted and threw baseballs at him. He said she also threw a mug and an ashtray and dumped a bucket of soapy water on him, according to the report.

Steely-eyed Chuck don't take no sass talk from the little lady.

Meanwhile, the Osceola County Republicans warn us of the dangers of violent criminals and unilateral disarmament:

Republicans believe that the needs of communities and law-abiding citizens must take priority over those of criminals. Liberal Democrats have an extremist record of placing the rights of criminals above all, including freeing violent criminals on legal technicalities.

Republicans believe that the only way to live free from foreign aggression is to maintain peace through strength. Liberal Democrats would unilaterally disarm. They impose their agenda by continually voting to divert defense funds to expand social programs.

So that's the problem. We should be scouring Iraq for beer coolers, ashtrays, baseballs and buckets of soapy water. We can allow our enemies to develop a Barware Gap.

(Main link via David Ehrenstein.)