NEWS RELEASE

At 11:15 A.M. today, Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar held a press conference, giving information from the following prepared statement reporting on a double stabbing which occurred Wednesday night on 4th Place South West.

“On Christmas Eve at 4:15 A.M., our deputies responded to the 2400 block of 2nd Street SW in reference to a domestic violence disturbance. When our deputy arrived, Brandon Arnold (19) approached the patrol car and began fighting with him. Our deputy sustained injuries but was ultimately able to control the situation and arrest Arnold for battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and domestic violence battery. A court ordered injunction between Arnold and his domestic violence victim was established and Arnold bonded out later that day on a $2,500.00 bail bond.

Last night, Brandon Arnold went to a residence in the 700 block of 4th Place SW, where his victim was temporarily residing with two friends. Arnold came to the residence armed with a knife. Arnold proceeded to stab one of the friends above the right eye causing a four inch laceration, while also causing a laceration to the second friend that started behind the left ear continuing around the neck towards the right ear, narrowly missing the artery. Arnold then took his domestic violence victim and a young child into his vehicle and fled the area.

We received a 9-1-1 call about this incident at 9:48 P.M. and our units were on scene within four minutes. The two stabbing victims were able to identify the suspect as Brandon Arnold. Our patrol and detective units began working on the case and quickly learned that Arnold was in St. Lucie County. Our patrol division coordinated with St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and quickly located the victim and child, unharmed in a mobile home community. A search warrant was conducted and Arnold’s bloody clothes, a bloody towel, and drugs were located inside of the mobile home.

Deputies and detectives learned that Arnold showered and left moments before deputies arrived. Deputies established a rapport with one of Arnold’s family members who convinced Arnold to turn himself in to St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Arnold was taken into custody by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and charged with a violation of the domestic violence injunction. Arnold led our detectives to the location of the weapon he used.

Today, our detectives are preparing warrants for Arnold for the charge of attempted murder. We are proud of the work of our patrol units and our detectives who spent the night making this case. In 2014, our community experienced too many deadly domestic violence incidents and we are fortunate today to report that all four victims in this case are alive. We are thankful for the help of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and for our partner SafeSpace, the only domestic violence shelter on the Treasure Coast.

In March of last year, I hired Victoria Sharp as the first domestic violence victim’s advocate in the history of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. Since May of last year, she has worked on more than 420 reports of domestic violence, averaging 54 contacts with domestic violence victims a month. She has assisted fifteen people in our community in obtaining restraining orders, and continues to work with victims of domestic violence every day.

Nationally last year, domestic violence took center stage with several high profile NFL players being suspended in domestic violence incidents. We want that dialogue to continue. Domestic violence is all too real and deadly. Domestic violence happens every day in our community and is completely preventable. This case today highlights the need for us to continue to support domestic violence outreach efforts and our partner, SafeSpace.”