DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said a woman's killing could have been prevented if the responding officer had made different choices.
Chitwood said his officers mishandled an incident involving Johan Chiri, 44, and his wife Milena Chiri, 38, and as a result, Milena Chiri was killed.
Chiri is charged with murder in the April 7 death of his wife.
Chitwood said there were plenty of opportunities to take her husband, Johan Chiri, into custody. Chitwood said the officer should have seen the signs from Chiri himself at the family's home and done more.
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Chief said he should have seen the signs from Chiri himself at the family's home and done more.
On Wednesday, Chitwood said body camera video from Officer Brian Biddix recorded a 30-minute investigation into a domestic disturbance call Chiri's University Avenue home.
According to police, the video shows Milena Chiri crying and looking scared as her husband screamed at her. They said she was dead a few hours later.
Police said Chiri admitted to killing his wife, whose body was discovered by their 12-year-old daughter.
"I don't know how to say anything to those little girls for what they saw or what they went through," Chitwood said.
Chitwood said Biddox could have arrested Johan Chiri on disorderly conduct charges, or he could have called a supervisor for direction in the incident.
Biddox, who was in his probationary time with the department, has resigned.
Chitwood said he is personally working to see that a mistake like this never happens again.
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