Jacksonville fire captain arrested, following domestic incident in Neptune Beach

Jacksonville, FL — It all played out as three children, including a 2-year-old, were inside the home.

A fire captain at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) has been arrested for battery, after a domestic incident in Neptune Beach.

According to the incident report from the Neptune Beach Police Department, Sergio Ortiz, 43, and his live-in girlfriend got into an argument on August 26.

Ortiz claims it was because he accepted an invitation to a bachelor party without talking to her first.

But, during that argument, the girlfriend tells police Ortiz became violent and pushed her three times in the chest. That's when she took a shower and started packing her bag to leave.

The report says as she was packing, Ortiz cornered her in a closet and refused to let her out. She told police that Ortiz put his hands on her waist and shoulders and was pushing her further into the closet.

During that time, she also claims Ortiz took her phone and refused to give it back, so while still in the closet, she yelled for one of her children to call 911.

When officers talked to Ortiz, the report says he denied pushing her and taking her phone away. He claims he was only trying to calm her down.

He's now charged with battery, using personal weapons, such as hands, fists, etc.

According to JFRD Public Information Officer Tom Francis, Captain Ortiz was hired on January 13, 2003. He's since been placed on administrative reassignment, effective immediately with internal investigative measures actively in progress.