Ex-Miami assistant chief of police arrested for domestic violence

Judge orders Lt. Thomas Carroll, a former assistant chief, to stay away from his wife until the case is resolved

MIAMI – A former Miami Police Department’s assistant chief of police was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Sunday accused of domestic violence in Miami-Dade County.

According to a police report, officers arrested Lt. Thomas Carroll at 9:35 p.m., on Saturday, at the department’s headquarters in Downtown Miami after the alleged incident at about 5 p.m., at his home.

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According to the report, two witnesses “corroborated” that Carroll, 47, ”intentionally spit” at his wife ten times and “slapped” her in the face twice before she ran outside and called police for help. The couple had allegedly been arguing since Friday and there were insults.

County inmate records show correctional officers booked Carroll shortly before 1:30 a.m., on Sunday, at TKGCC, and he faced a battery charge. He appeared in bond court. A judge set his bond at $1,000 and ordered him to stay away from his wife until the case is resolved.

A DEPARTMENT VETERAN

Records show the department hired Carroll on Jan. 25, 1999. Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes promoted him to commander in 2017 and Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo promoted him to assistant chief in 2021.

Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales demoted Carroll to lieutenant in 2023 and promoted Chiquita F. Butler from major to assistant chief to oversee the department’s field operations.

Carroll was recently included in a Miami Herald story after a former Black police officer’s Oct. 11 racial discrimination lawsuit claimed he acknowledged Morales had a vendetta against her. Assistant Chief Armando Aguilar, the department’s administration division chief, released a statement about the arrest.

“When acts of domestic violence are perpetrated by law enforcement officers, they are especially disheartening, as they represent a breach of the sacred trust placed in us by the people we serve,” Aguilar said.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The specifics of Carroll’s case are not public. It is clear, that some studies have shown rates of domestic violence increase on major holidays, and law enforcement families face a higher risk than the general population.

According to Connections for Abused Women and Children, the holidays come with financial stress for some couples and this can exacerbate tensions. Author Kaytee Gillis, a psychotherapist, agrees and also attributes the rate increase to more alcohol consumption.

Gillis listed some tips on Psychology Today to develop a safety plan during the holiday season: Look for signs of escalation, keep a list of contacts, create a code for friends and family, pack an emergency bag, and “have an idea where you can go” if you need to leave the home.

For more information on safety planning, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.


About the Authors
Samiar Nefzi headshot

Samiar Nefzi joined the Local 10 News team in August of 2023.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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