Wife Speaks Out Against Sunrise Cop Facing Domestic Violence Charges
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Sunrise police officer is out on bond after he was arrested Sunday on domestic violence charges and his wife is speaking only to CBS4 News about the allegations.
Patrick Gravelle is accused of two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and one county of domestic violence battery.
His wife, who asked that CBS4 News protect her identity, blamed Sunday's violence on Gravelle's drug and alcohol addictions.
"I think he needs help," she said.
Gravelle walked out of jail Monday on $42,500 bond following the violent encounter at the family's Tamarac on Sunday evening. The victim said her son confronted Gravelle about his behavior and Gravelle threatened him with a gun.
"I heard him in the office get his gun and I heard him cock it back," she said.
She said Gravelle is the one who called 911 but when the authorities arrived they saw the bruises on her arms and other evidence that Gravelle was the aggressor. She told investigators that in the recent past Gravelle threatened her repeatedly including telling her he would kill her and dump her body in the Everglades.
"It's very scary because I believe it," she said.
She said his controlling ways forced her to stay.
"When you hear somebody tell you enough times that , 'I'm gonna make you out to be the crazy, blah-blah-blah, whose gonna believe it? I'm the police officer. I know the law,'" she said. "So you sit there and you take it."
She said she doesn't have to take it anymore.
During a bond court hearing Monday, Gravelle's lawyer said his client has a drug addiction and needs treatment.
The judge granted him bond but told him not to have any contact with the victims or have a gun. As he left jail, Gravelle did not want to discuss the charges.
"Please just leave me alone," he said. "I have no comment."
Sunrise Police relieved him of duty with pay while they look into the allegations. He has worked for the department for nearly 10 years. His wife said she believes Gravelle should not be a cop.
"I truly believe that a man that volatile should not be in charge of a gun," she said. "Should not be in charge of a taser. He should be psychologically evaluated."
She hopes her story can help other women who are in abusive relationships.
"If you are being verbally, mentally or physically abused you need to come forward."