Breakup with deputy escalates to arrest

His former girlfriend is charged with grand theft and armed burglary after taking a duty belt with his gun, Taser and handcuffs, authorities say.

By CARRIE RITCHIE
Published July 3, 2007

When Tiffany Lee Gonzalez got mad at her ex-boyfriend, authorities say she threw wine in his face and then took his work belt.

But the move landed her in jail Sunday because her ex- is a Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputy, so more than $1, 000 in police equipment was attached to that belt.

Gonzalez, a 35-year-old Zephyrhills resident, now faces felony charges of grand theft, armed burglary and depriving an officer of means of protection or communication. She was also charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.

She's being held at the Pasco County jail in lieu of $120, 000 bail.

Police said Gonzalez went to Deputy William O. Peace Jr.'s home about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. She threw a glass of wine in his face, then threw the glass at the wall, said Zephyrhills Police Department Sgt. Rob Perrault, reading from the arrest report.

Gonzalez returned a few minutes later and took his duty belt, which contained his handgun, Taser, handcuffs and other equipment, according to the report.

She returned to her house at 5714 Frontier Drive in Zephyrhills, where police recovered the property and arrested her.

The equipment, valued at about $1, 150, was returned to Peace, according to the arrest report.

Peace didn't violate any rules and isn't being investigated, said Doug Tobin, the sheriff's public information officer.

Tobin said cases like this are rare.

"It's very unusual for an adult who knows the deputy to take the weapon from the deputy's personal residence, " he said.

He said they've had two reports of stolen equipment in the last year, but in each case the equipment was stolen by a stranger.

Peace filed a domestic violence injunction against Gonzalez on Monday.

Carrie Ritchie can be reached at critchie@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 2, 2007, 20:51:01]