Son of Sanford city manager arrested on domestic violence charges

SANFORD, Fla. — Authorities said Sanford's city manager Norton Bonaparte's son, also named Norton Bonaparte, was arrested overnight in Seminole County on domestic violence against his mother.

According the arrest report, Bonaparte barged into his parent's home and got into an argument with his mother, who called police.

"My husband is working on changing the locks right now," the woman told 911 dispatchers. "I have his home address and I've asked him repeatedly to leave my house."

According to the report, Bonaparte's mother felt he was angry enough to hurt her, and at one point she thought he said, "I will kill you."

But according to the, he actually said, "Go kill yourself."

City manager Bonaparte told WFTV that he can't comment, but Sanford police did their job in arresting his son.

A judge didn't find enough probable cause to charge the younger Bonaparte with making violent threats, but he still faces trespassing charges.

Channel 9 learned that because Bonaparte is the son of a city manager, he is entitled to a state exemption that keeps much of his personal information, even his mug shot, from becoming public.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer questions whether that exemption should apply to a grown man who doesn't live at home.

"I don't believe the statute was designed for an adult male who is not living at home to take advantage of this exemption," said Sheaffer. "It just doesn't make sense that the statute was designed for this situation."

WFTV found Bonaparte's son was previously arrested in Topeka, Kan., where his father was also the city manager.  He was allegedly caught speeding and driving on a suspended license.

WFTV