An Osceola County deputy is accused of beating a woman he was in a relationship with.
- Osceola County Deputy Richard Ortiz accused of battery
- Witness said he saw Ortiz beat woman who was trying to leave him
A witness told the sheriff's office he saw Richard Ortiz reach through the open passenger side door of a car and pull a woman out by her arms. The two then went inside a home and continued a fight.
The witness said when the woman threatened to call 911, Ortiz tried take the phone away. The woman then tried to leave, and the witness said that's when he saw Ortiz push the woman against a wall and physically attacked her.
The witness says Ortiz then told the woman that he would go kill himself. The witness said Ortiz then got into his marked Osceola County Sheriff's Office vehicle and left.
The sheriff's office says Ortiz's supervisor was contacted and they made contact with Ortiz.
He was taken to Osceola County's jail.
Ortiz has been suspended while an administrative review is conducted.