St. Johns County deputy fired after domestic violence arrest

Arrest report says drunken deputy choked girlfriend after she refused sex

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A St. Johns County deputy was arrested Tuesday and fired after a domestic violence incident in which he was accused of choking his girlfriend after she refused him sex, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Jeremy Galentine was charged with felony domestic battery and is being held without bond in the St. Johns County Jail.

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According to the arrest report, Galentine and his girlfriend went bar-hopping Friday night and returned home in the early morning hours Saturday.

The report said Galentine was drunk and wanted sex, but his girlfriend refused, and they started arguing.

According to the arrest report, Galentine choked her in bed for about 15 seconds before she managed to get away from him. But he followed her, screaming names at her, and started slapping her in the face, hitting her four times, according to the report.

One of the strikes was a backhand, she told deputies.

When she sat down on a chair, he kicked it out from under her, causing her to fall, the report said.

When deputies interviewed Galentine's girlfriend, her right cheek and eyelid were swollen.

Galentine's felony domestic battery charge was grounds for immediate termination, a sheriff's office spokesman said.

Galentine had been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2000. He had one prior disciplinary issue, as the result of a an altercation with another man at a bar. 

According to News4Jax records, Galentine is the fifth St. Johns County deputy since last year to face domestic violence charges.