Highlands Today
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Couple's Fight Ends After Officers Taser, Arrest Them
Courtesy photos
Alfonso Jermaine Perdue, 31; Shata Jerome Whitt, 18
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Published: January 24, 2008
SEBRING — An engaged Sebring couple was tasered Wednesday afternoon after officers responded to an alleged fight between the two.
Shata Jerome Whitt, 18, was charged with battery on an officer, resisting an officer with violence and marijuana possession after she allegedly attacked an officer who was attempting to detain her fiancé, Alfonso Jermaine Perdue, 31.
Perdue was charged with domestic violence battery by strangulation, resisting an officer without violence and marijuana possession.
According to arrest reports, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Cpl. Mike Cutolo responded to a call regarding a possible fight in the area of Lemon Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.
When Cutolo arrived, he discovered Perdue standing by the driver's side of his vehicle, while Whitt was sitting on the ground next to the vehicle. According to reports, it appeared to Cutolo that Whitt was crying and had been hurt.
Cutolo, who was in his patrol vehicle, reported that he saw Perdue grab Whitt in an aggressive matter and push her into their vehicle's open driver's side door.
Cutolo then reportedly approached the driver's side of the vehicle and saw Perdue grab Whitt by her neck, choking her.
After seeing the alleged choking incident, Cutolo tasered Perdue, who reportedly fell partially outside of his car door.
Perdue reportedly refused to cooperate with Cutolo, who ordered him to fully place himself on the ground. Perdue reportedly still had his legs on top of Whitt in the car, as his upper body laid outside.
Cutolo then tasered Perdue a second time. Perdue was still reportedly uncooperative with Cutolo, who had to tase him two more times.
Officers Chad Landry and Brandon Low then arrived at the scene to assist Cutolo, and the group was able to detain Perdue by placing him on the ground and handcuffing him.
While Cutolo was trying to detain Perdue, Whitt began to exit the passenger side of the car, despite the officers' warnings for her to stay inside. Whitt then allegedly stood up and tried leaving the vehicle, as officers repeatedly tried to place her back inside, as they were still trying to detain Perdue.
Landry then tried to escort Whitt back into the vehicle, and Whitt allegedly began to push Landry in an attempt to break away from him. Whitt then allegedly began to swing her arms at Landry in an attempt to strike him.
Reports go on to state that after Whitt became aggressive, Landry was forced to tase her.
After officers were able to detain the couple, they found a clear plastic bag inside the vehicle, which tested positive for the presence of marijuana.
Reports state that Perdue told officers that he was not choking Whitt, and that he was just trying to prevent her from breaking a necklace she was wearing.
For the alleged officer attack, Whitt was charged with two third degree felonies-battery of an officer and resisting arrest with violence.
Meanwhile, Perdue was charged with only one felony count-battery by strangulation. Perdue's resisting an officer without violence or obstruction is a misdemeanor.
The marijuana charges that the couple faces are misdemeanors.
Perdue was denied bond on Thursday and was held at the Highlands County Jail. Whitt's bond was set at $3,500, but she still remained in jail as of press time.
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