PLANTATION _ The wife of Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley has been arrested after police say she fired multiple gunshots during an argument with her husband at the couple’s Plantation home.
Eleanor Adderley, 45, is charged with two counts of domestic violence. She also faces weapons charges, according to Plantation police.
“Despite this trying time, I support and stand by my wife,’’ Frank Adderley said in a prepared statement released to the media. “I love her very much and will do everything possible to get whatever assistance she needs during this difficult time.’’
The arrest came after Frank Adderley called police to their Plantation home Tuesday night after several gunshots were fired during an argument the couple had, police said.
Sources close to the investigation said the first shots were fired in a bedroom, and several more followed as Adderley fled for his safety.
“They had an argument, and I don’t know what the argument was about,” Plantation police spokesman Det. Phil Toman said. “He [Frank] was lying on the bed and she shot into the mattress where he was laying. He then got up and ran, and as he was running, she then discharged the weapon several more times.”
It is unclear whether the subsequent shots were fired at Frank Adderley, or were discharged into the air.
Eleanor Adderley is being held in the Broward County Jail on one count of shooting into a dwelling, a second-degree felony, and one count of aggravated assault without intent to kill, a third-degree felony, according to police.
Bail has been set at $7,500 on the first charge, and there is no bail on the second charge.
“Chief Adderley contacted the Plantation Police Department at approximately 9 p.m. regarding a domestic matter at his residence,’’ Fort Lauderdale Police spokeswoman Det. Katherine Collins said in a prepared statement. “Chief Adderley is cooperating fully with the investigation which is being handled by the Plantation Police Department. The members of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department support Chief Adderley and his family during this trying time.’’
Frank Adderley became the city of Fort Lauderdale’s first black chief of police in May. City Manager George Gretsas appointed Adderley to the position after former Police Chief Bruce G. Roberts abruptly resigned.
The Adderley shooting incident has rattled a department that has had its share of controversies in recent months. But officials say they have no intention of altering their schedules or their normal course of work because of the latest incident.
“I imagine he is going to take a couple of days off to work through this,” said Sgt. Frank Sousa, a spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. “It’s business as usual, and we are going to continue operating as we do here, and obviously Chief Adderley has our wholehearted support.”
EJones@SFLTimes.com
Pictured at top is Eleanor Adderley. Pictured below is her husband, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley.
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