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Highlands Today

AP City Worker Fired After Altercation

SHERIFF’S OFFICE FILES BATTERY CHARGES ON TWO CITY EMPLOYEES

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: February 19, 2009

Updated: 02/19/2009 06:39 pm

AVON PARK - A city of Avon Park employee was fired from his job after an altercation with another worker at the city's wastewater treatment plant.

John Deluca was terminated from his position Tuesday afternoon as a wastewater treatment plant worker after a fistfight Tuesday morning with Public Works working foreman Freddie Renfro, City Manager Sarah Adelt said Thursday.

Renfro was treated at the scene by Emergency Medical Services for a cut above an eye and a cut lip, she said.

Adelt did not know what sparked the fight.

The city's wastewater treatment plant is located outside the city limits so the Highlands County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

The Sheriff's Office filed battery charges on both Deluca and Renfro with the State Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office Lt. Kenny Johnson said Thursday.

Both men have different stories about how the incident happened, he said, but it's obvious, based on their statements, that each man battered the other.

No physical arrests have been made, Johnson said.

Deluca was a new hire working during a new-hire probationary period. New hires are subject to a six-month probationary period, but Deluca was working during a 90-day extension period.

Renfro has been with the city around 27 years, Adelt said. There has been no disciplinary action yet involving Renfro.

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