In a sobering reminder that those assigned to uphold the law can also fall afoul of it, a corrections officer from Avon Park has been arrested on charges of domestic violence. As reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 29-year-old Artavis Pierce was taken into custody after deputies responded to a call in the early hours of Thursday.
The incident occurred at Pierce’s residence in Lakeland, where an argument between him and the victim escalated into violence. The victim reported that during the confrontation, Pierce struck her in the face, twice. The type of strike—a grim choice between an open hand or a closed fist—was uncertain to the victim, nevertheless, her injuries were clearly apparent, upon the arrival of law enforcement. Pierce was taken into custody, seemingly without resistance.
Domestic violence persists as a stain within communities, engendering a betrayal of trust not only between individuals but also within the very fabric of society when the perpetrator is a public servant. Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his consternation, saying, “Domestic violence committed by anyone is egregious, but when it’s committed by someone who is a public servant and entrusted to care for state prisoners, it’s especially disappointing,” as detailed by Polk County Sheriff’s Office release…