FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A domestic dispute involving Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and his former partner took a disturbing turn, leaving the mayor hurt and landing his assailant behind bars, police said.
According to court records, Daniel Curran was taken into custody on Wednesday. The 34-year-old appeared before Broward Circuit Court Judge Corey Friedman on Thursday.
Curran was charged with violating a domestic violence injunction and battery on a person 65 years of age or older
During the hearing, Trantalis, who is 72 years old, said he had opened the door to reconnecting with the suspect to some degree, but the encounter became violent.
“I thought maybe there was some way to rehabilitate Danny by trying to reconnect and hopefully steer him into counseling and mental health treatment, and I failed at that,” said Trantalis. “At the end, this past weekend, he threw me to the ground. He committed everything that’s in the information with regard to the violent act against me, and then I realized that there was no hope for this relationship.”
At some point, Trantalis called the police, and Curran was arrested.
In bond court, Trantalis told the judge he’s afraid of his former domestic partner.
“He has exhibited extreme violence and I can’t have him in my life anymore,” said Trantalis.
According to a domestic violence injunction filed by the mayor, “When [Curran] fails to take his medication, which is often, he becomes wild and violent!” The mayor added Curran “would smash objects, take out this knife and violently cut through things, as if I was next!”
The judge also ordered Curran to have no contact with the mayor, as well as refrain from returning to the location of the incident and possessing firearms, weapons or ammunition.
Curran bonded out of jail on Friday night and sprinted away from media cameras.
“Is there anything you want to say about the charges against you?” asked a 7News reporter as cameras captured Curran running.
“I love him,” he said.
“You love him? Despite everything?” said the reporter.
“No matter what. I always have and will love him,” he said.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office said they have “sent a request to the Governor’s Office for an executive assignment to have this matter handled by a State Attorney’s Office in another jurisdiction.”
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