A Florida sheriff’s official is criticizing the Ohio justice system after deputies arrested a fugitive who previously was convicted in the 2015 death of his infant son, saying the man should have remained behind bars.
Anthony Benjamin Grove of Canton was taken into custody last weekend in Volusia County after deputies encountered him during heightened patrols in Daytona Beach area, Chief Deputy Brian Henderson told Canton Repository news partner News 5 Cleveland.
Grove was seated on a seawall next to another person drinking from a whiskey bottle when deputies approached, Henderson said.
“So we arrested the one individual for the open container and asked this guy his name,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Adult Parole Authority had listed Grove online as wanted for violating the conditions of his parole. The listing — which said he “should be considered dangerous and possibly armed” — didn’t state how he violated parole and officials couldn’t reached for comment.
Grove had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after throwing a ceramic mug during an argument, striking his 2-month-old son in the head. The child died the next day. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and released in 2023.
Henderson said he initially made small talk with Grove while deputies ran a background check.
“I asked him if he had any kids, generally as an ice breaker when you’re kind of trying to figure out someone,” Henderson said. “And he said, ‘Yeah, I had two kids, and one passed away.’ So I showed him some sympathy about ‘Man, I’m really sorry to hear that.’ Well, he left out obviously one of the big parts.”
“As a father, that really pissed me off that some guy would try to get sympathy from a stranger over the loss of his child, knowing that he is the reason his child is dead,” he said.
Henderson also took aim at how the case was handled in Ohio.
“The Ohio Justice System failed to hold this guy appropriately accountable; he should be in prison for the rest of his life,” he said. “I don’t care what the facts and circumstances are — he killed an infant. And he definitely shouldn’t be hanging out on our beach.”
Court records show the original charge was murder but was reduced as part of a plea agreement supported by the child’s mother, who sought to avoid testifying and reliving the incident in court. Prosecutors described the act as reckless but not intentional.
Florida officials are working with Ohio authorities on extradition.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Florida sheriff blasts Ohio justice system after Canton man’s arrest
Reporting by Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
