VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Holly Hill man has been arrested on charges that he assaulted an employee with the Florida Department of Children and Families, police say.
Police said Frank John Christaldi, 53, knew D’iera Woodard was a DCF worker and assaulted her.
Woodward went to Christaldi’s home June 5 to investigate allegations of a sexual offense involving a neighbor juvenile, police said. Woodward told police that Christaldi became aggressive and started yelling at her several times. Christaldi is also accused of yelling at a child inside the home and shaking her, so Woodward called 911.
“He’s acting aggressive toward me and the little girl,” Woodward told dispatchers.
Woodward said at one point, she was in a room by herself with Christaldi and was trying to calm him down because he was so upset, police said.
Woodward said she began thinking of how she could escape and whether she could run around him or have to grab something in the room, like a pen, to defend herself.
He said, “Oh, now you want to leave,” and “No, no, you aren’t going to leave, Woodward told investigators. I already told you to leave three or four times, and you aren’t going to leave until I tell you to leave,” investigators said.
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Woodward said Christaldi would not let her leave the home for a few minutes, and then pushed her out of the house using his stomach. Christaldi is 5 foot 10 inches and weighs 350 pounds, while Woodwad is 5 foot 3 inches and weighs 120 pounds, police said.
“Obviously, she was concerned about her safety. She’s a smaller lady to begin with, and the man is almost four times her size,” said Holly Hill police Chief Steven Aldrich.
During questioning with police, Christaldi denied everything Woodward claimed, police said. He said all he wanted her to do was leave and that he never touched her, police said.
Christaldi said he was aggressive and angry, but he feels it is a personal issue against him by the DCF.
Several people inside the home told Woodward that they don’t feel safe living with Christaldi.
An official with DCF would not comment on the case, citing privacy laws.