Sheriff's brother arrested on battery charges

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Hubert Rutherford

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hubert Rutherford, the brother of Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, was arrested earlier this month on charges of felony domestic battery by strangulation, child abuse, aggravated assault and battery.

According to a police report, Hubert Rutherford, 49, came home intoxicated on Jan. 12 and got into a physical altercation with his daughter and her friend after they brought home a stray dog.

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An officer said he found Rutherford's daughter walking down the road and she had a hand-shaped red mark on the left side of her face, as well as red marks and scratches on her neck.

Rutherford's daughter said her dad was yelling about the dog when he got home and grabbed her by the throat and began to choke her.

She said Rutherford's live-in girlfriend, 48-year-old Kari Reynolds, slapped her across the face.

Police said the friend defended Rutherford's daughter, then Rutherford chased his daughter and her friend out of the house with either a broom or a golf club.

Reynolds was also arrested after the altercation.