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FDLE chief's son implicated in fight - again

Details are emerging about the second of two dustups involving corrections workers and softball events. He allegedly was involved in both.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published March 2, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - The son of the state's top law enforcement officer was involved in a fight in May that put another state employee in a hospital with a broken jaw, causing him to miss 34 days of work.

Bradley Tunnell, a Department of Corrections employee and son of Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Guy Tunnell, was involved in two fights that occurred within 45 days last year, interim Corrections Secretary James McDonough confirmed Wednesday. The fights are the subject of an ongoing investigation.

Tunnell was among nine corrections employees allegedly involved in the fights who have been put on administrative leave without pay. Bradley Tunnell, however, was the only one of the nine involved in both fights, said McDonough while leaving Gov. Jeb Bush's office on Wednesday.

McDonough said he is close to closing the investigation. He said he briefed Bush on Wednesday, updated the governor on his first three weeks running the department and outlined areas in which he could use some support.

Tunnell, 31, was one of three employees placed on administrative leave with pay in late October. Those employees had all been involved in the first fight, which occurred April 1 at a softball banquet at the Florida National Guard Armory in Tallahassee.

In the first fight, Tunnell's part was comparatively minor, according to witnesses and court records. Tunnell was driving a pickup that pulled up to the armory as friends were leading an injured officer away. Tunnell allegedly used profane language and threatened one of the corrections officers.

But he also played a role in the second fight that occurred while state employees were in Jacksonville in May for the Secretary's Softball Tournament.

McDonough said the fight didn't occur at a softball game. "People were hurt, some brutally," McDonough said.

One employee was hospitalized with a broken jaw, which had to be wired shut, McDonough said.

Two corrections employees involved with the Jacksonville fight said they couldn't talk about it for fear of losing their jobs.

McDonough said investigating the son of the commissioner of the FDLE - which has joined with the federal government in the investigation of the Corrections Department - does not conflict with his review of the fights.

"It's not awkward at all for me to do what I have to do," McDonough said.

FDLE spokeswoman Kristen Perezluha said the FDLE is continuing its investigation and declined to comment on the fights. Attempts to reach Bradley Tunnell on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

[Last modified March 2, 2006, 01:31:05]