POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man who worked with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and applied to become a deputy with the agency has been arrested for hurting his girlfriend.
Marquarious Gaskins, 22, was charged with battery with domestic violence.
Gaskins, who was hired in 2021 and worked in the jail food services section, applied to be a detention deputy with the sheriff's office, authorities say.
During the second background check of the application process, law enforcement discovered from a neighbor that there was arguing and screaming coming from Gaskins' home in Winter Haven where he lives with his girlfriend, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The 22-year-old's girlfriend, who is also a civilian agency member with the sheriff's office, had a cut on her lip and a broken acrylic fingernail when deputies talked to her, authorities say.
She reportedly told investigators she and Gaskins got into an argument that escalated in which she went to the bathroom to protect herself. That's when Gaskins banged and kicked on the restroom door until it opened, but the door hit the woman in the face.
“Both the victim and Gaskins were completely honest and cooperative during this investigation, which is still underway," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "He is no longer a candidate for a detention deputy or deputy sheriff position at this time.”
Deputies say the couple were fighting over the control of a cell phone.
Gaskins was taken to Polk County Jail where he was released on bond.
