Former Mayor Bonds Out After Appearing Before Domestic Violence Judge
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Former Miami-Dade Mayor and Police Director Carlos Alvarez is out on bond after going before a judge in domestic violence court on Thursday.
Alvarez, 63, was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of battery against his girlfriend after they fought over a cat.
A judge set his bond at $1,500 and ordered him not to contact her, either in person or via text, and stay at least 500 feet from her residence.
Alvarez has been in an ongoing relationship with Miami-Dade Police Lt. Evelyn Fernandez for 14 years.
"Based on the victim's sworn statement and the sworn statement of her teenage daughter, a pattern of domestic violence has developed since 2013 until present," according to the police report.
The report states that on April 23rd, 2016, she went to his condo to return his cat. The two got into a fight which escalated.
"The defendant grabbed the victim by both arms and pinned her against the wall in the building's parking garage. The defendant began spitting at the victim while he was yelling profanities at her," states the arrest affidavit.
Alvarez's attorney, Douglas Hartman, took issue with the way the incident was portrayed and plans to challenge the photos of the bruises.
"I think we need to wait and see the medical material and see if she is the sort of person who easily bruises," Hartman said.
After a brief hearing, Alvarez left court and then jail after posting the $1,500 bond. He stopped to speak with CBS4's Peter D'Oench.
"I'm happy to go home. There are two sides to every story. My side hasn't been told. Other people want to know what went on. I was a public figure for many years. My side has not been told to anyone. I will have my day in court," he said.
And as Alvarez hugged a loved one, his attorney claimed he's innocent.
"He denies the allegations and pleads not guilty. There will be more in discovery and we will move on. He's definitely going to fight the charges," Hartman said.
Fernandez is on medical leave from the police department because she is battling cancer.
She shared a nasty text she said Alvarez sent her.
Alvarez's older sister quickly defended his character.
"I am very upset about what has transpired in the past few days. He has always been a very gentle, loving, brother, son, grandson, uncle, father," said Christina Penedo. "He's always surrounded by women. He's never allowed anyone to say anything nasty around the girls. This is an injustice."
She had some words for Fernandez.
"To me, I think, there is nothing worse than a woman scorned," she said.
That drew a response from Fernandez, who said she was the one who left him.
She told D'Oench that she and her 16-year-old daughter moved out in September of 2015 because of verbal abuse to both of them.
Police were also called there in April of 2014 after the daughter heard a fight. Police found no signs of a physical altercation and Fernandez said she was not battered.
Alvarez was elected Mayor in 2004 after serving as the county's police director for seven years.
He was re-elected and in 2009 backed a controversial plan to use hundreds of millions of county dollars to build the Marlins a ballpark. That same year he also reportedly gave several close aides large raises, according to the Miami Herald.
The following year he pushed for a 12 percent property-tax increase to offset revenue losses from the recession.
The public lashed out and booted him from office on March 15th in the largest recall of a local politician; almost 90 percent of those who voted said Alvarez should be removed from office.
He left the public spotlight but in 2013 he made headlines again when he won first place in a local bodybuilding competition.