Florida deputy fired, charged with battery after arrest

It has been a busy morning already and things not slowing down at all. In fact, let me give you a live look in Crystal River. We're expecting Governor DeSantis any minute for a news conference there. We are also expecting Attorney General James Uthmeyer for a news conference in Orlando coming up in just a couple of minutes. We'll have more on those things and a whole lot more in just a little bit right here on Fox Orlando Live. But we want to get to some of the big stories that have folks talking on this Wednesday afternoon. And so for that, we're going to check in with Fox 35 news anchor Danielle Knox, who is joining us live now from the Alert Center in the Fox 35 newsroom. Danielle, good afternoon. Garrett Weimer, good afternoon to you. We do want to begin with this one because this just happened this morning. It happened about 5.20 a.m. We're talking about an early morning homicide in South Daytona. As you take a look at the scene, there is an active homicide investigation right now, Garrett, in South Daytona. 5:20 this morning, 2050 South Ridge, an apartment complex there. Police are conducting an active homicide investigation there, but they do say there is no threat, no ongoing threat to the public. What they also say is they ended up taking a suspect into custody. So we do know there is at least one person in custody right now. But again, at this time, police say there is no ongoing threat to the public as it relates to this incident. They also say they are not going to be releasing the identities of the suspect or the victim at this particular time due to the nature of this investigation. What we also do not know right now is how the victim died. Again, no names have been released or what led up to this incident. But certainly that information will come out. But right now, investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the South Daytona Police Department. It's 386-322-3030. if you have any information on this. And again, Garrett, this is considered an active homicide investigation. Yeah, still a lot of questions about that one, and we will continue to follow that story throughout the day. Danielle, I know a case has also been getting a lot of attention out of Osceola County. Yeah, yeah, this is another really fascinating case here because a deputy goes to make a DUI arrest, and that seems like a pretty normal thing, right? What ends up happening is he is the one behind bars. As you take a look at his mugshot right there, he is facing felony battery charges, accused of battering a 67-year-old woman that he had pulled over. He is 29-year-old Joseph Belletier. He is accused of using unnecessary force on this woman who deputies say already had a broken collarbone and was wearing a sling. But deputies say as Belletier was putting her in his patrol car, it turned physical. Belletier had self-dispatched to this call about a Toyota Corolla driving the wrong way. He ended up arresting this woman, 67-year-old woman for DUI who was handcuffed in the front. And she informed deputies that she had a broken clavicle and that her left arm was in a sling. As she was being put in the patrol car, body cam and patrol car video itself showed Belletier using an unnecessary amount of force, according to authorities, while placing this woman inside his vehicle. And the video evidence also ended up contradicting his claim that she battered him. And so after reviewing the body camera video supervisors say they found that he was the one who had used excessive force Sheriff Christopher Blackman says Belletier was immediately relieved of duty pending formal termination proceedings he is now charged with battery on a person 65 or older that's a felony also official misconduct which is also a felony and perjury in an official proceeding which is also a felony he by the way has been with the department since 2023 so we will see what happens with that. But it's interesting, Garrett, how it was the police cam and body cam that ended up kind of giving him away. Because without that, it would have been her word against his word. Yeah, really interesting development in there. I should also note that at this news conference with the Attorney General in Orlando right now, we expect the Osceola County Sheriff to be there hoping to get comments from him on this incident. Meanwhile, let me give you a live look right now at Tropicana Field. I know. How about that, Danielle? A late night, but a huge win for the Rays to keep them alive in the World Series. A win that I don't know that any of us stayed up to watch. But listen, when we woke up this morning, we heard the great news. Tampa Bay Rays, World Series game win. I mean, listen, this was just an amazing game. It did not wrap up until about one o'clock in the morning. So lots of coffee for folks who happen to stay up and watch that game into the early morning hours. The Tampa Bay Rays Beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 last night in extra innings. Both teams tied at two apiece from the fifth inning all the way until the 12th inning. The Brewers went up 3-2 with a home run at the top of the 12th. And then you're like, OK, it's over. What else can we do, right? But here is where the, quote, ray of magic happened, Garrett. The bottom of the inning, the Rays scored not one but two to win it 4-3. Absolutely amazing game. And we do know that Milwaukee still needs one more win to clinch the entire World Series. But this win was such a victory for Tampa Bay. So just an amazing game. By the way, Game 5 tonight, 8 o'clock, inside the TROC. And you can watch that game live right here on Fox 35. Yeah, would love to see another win for this one. You know, we know the odds are stacked against the Rays. Anytime you go down three games to nothing, you know, the Brewers only have one more game to win in this series. So it's certainly an uphill battle. hasn't been done before in the World Series uh but it would be something at least just to make them sweat a little bit you know a big win last night they didn't get to celebrate on the Rays home field it would be great at least to send this back to Milwaukee uh for for a game six and you have to think how many people thought they were going to win last night so the fact that they won last night i'm thinking or this morning because it was 1 a.m i'm thinking there could still be a chance, Garrett, that they may be able to pull out one more. And it's another game that both you and I will wake up tomorrow morning to see what happened, because I don't think either one of us are going to be up to watch this one. So I'm not going to lie. I was awake for the end of it. I fell asleep on the couch a little bit in the middle, but I was awake for the exciting stuff at the end. So I didn't see the whole game, no, but I did at least see the end. So what about tonight? I'll do my best. Two nights in a row is tough. Maybe not extra innings tonight. Maybe not extra innings, but lots of coffee either way for you tomorrow morning. That's right. Well, Danielle, before we let you go, we've been doing our question of the hour that's been getting a lot of people talking today. It's National Chocolate Day, and so we're asking people what type of chocolate reigns supreme, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, or anything with nuts or peanut butter. Your take on this. Sure, absolutely dark chocolate. Every day, all day, on Saturdays and Sundays too. I mean, just dark chocolate is my go-to. And if you add nuts like almonds or cashews, that is a bonus. But for me, it is dark chocolate all the way. What about you? I like dark chocolate a lot. I'm not knocking it at all. It's very good. I would take it or milk chocolate. But if I could only pick one, I might pick milk chocolate. Okay, how about white chocolate? What does that rank for you? That's a no for me. It's like, is it even chocolate? That's what I ask. Is it chocolate? I don't, I mean, technically, no, I don't think it is. I don't think so. You know who a white chocolate defender is who's going to be here in about two minutes? Who? Meteorologist Jessica Dobson. Really? Her vote was white chocolate earlier today. We've been giving her a lot of grief for it, but she has some defenders who have come to her side in the chat, folks who have been joining the conversation with us. Even though only about 16% have voted for it, some people have stood up for her. So have to look at Jess sideways now, and that's my girl can't trust someone who likes a white chocolate over dark chocolate. Absolutely. Absolutely. I love her anyway. Yeah, we do. Danielle, we appreciate you joining us here for our top stories here on Fox Orlando Live. My pleasure, Gary. I'll see you soon. Have a good show. All right. Thank you. We're going to take a quick break. Just getting started here on Fox Orlando Live. We're going to check in and give you the latest forecast. We're going to hear from Governor DeSantis, going to hear from Attorney General James Uthmeyer as well.