Orange County deputy arrested on dating violence charge

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fellow employee late Wednesday.

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Deputy Marcus Ghent was booked into the Orange County Jail on a battery charge related to dating violence, a department spokesperson said.

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According to OCSO, Ghent was arrested after a criminal investigation that stemmed from accusations of physical violence reported by the alleged victim on Nov. 24.

According to an arrest affidavit, Deputy Ghent got into an argument with an ex-girlfriend who alleged he’d been in a relationship with another woman.

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In the report, Ghent is accused of grabbing his ex-girlfriend’s hair and smashing her head against a car.

In a statement Thursday, the sheriff’s office confirmed Ghent has been relieved of all law enforcement duties, without pay, while a criminal investigation is conducted.

OCSO said the department will begin a separate, internal investigation once the criminal case is complete.

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Sheriff John Mina called the allegations against Deputy Ghent “very serious” and said he has “a zero tolerance policy toward domestic violence.”

Mina added, “these allegations will be thoroughly investigated and the results of that investigation will be made public.”

Ghent joined OCSO in June 2020 as a member of the Uniform Patrol Division.

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