Wife charged with assaulting Fort Lauderdale police chief

[Dhunter55]

FORT LAUDERDALE - The wife of Police Chief Frank Adderley roused him from bed with a gunshot and then chased him from their Plantation house to a neighbor's, squeezing off more rounds as he ran away, authorities said.

The first bullet missed the chief by inches, police said. He was not injured.

Hours after the alleged Tuesday night attack, Adderley promised to pay the $25,000 bail to get his wife, Eleanor Leisa Adderley, out of jail. And then he agreed to move out of their Plantation house so she could live there without breaking a judge's order to stay a mile away from him.

She was released Wednesday night. Plantation police arrested Eleanor Adderley, 45, Wednesday morning on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and firing a gun within a dwelling. Though she first was held without bail, a judge set it at $25,000 in a special hearing for her case Wednesday afternoon. She could face 20 years in prison on the two felony charges.

Her husband said in a statement that he still supports his wife. He could not be reached for comment despite messages left at his work and on his cell phone.

"Despite this trying time, I support and stand by my wife," he said in the statement. "I love her very much, and I will do everything possible to get whatever assistance she needs during this difficult time."

The trouble started some time after 9 p.m. at the couple's home in Plantation Golf Estates. According to an arrest report, the couple were arguing over "personal marital matters" when Eleanor Adderley grabbed a Beretta 9 mm handgun.

The report said she pointed the gun in her husband's direction and fired a shot, the bullet striking the mattress just inches from where he lay. Her husband bolted out of the house through a rear porch. She followed, firing another shot, the report said. It said she fired at least a third shot, possibly more, as he neared the neighbor's house.

Police said she eventually gave up the gun to a neighbor and was arrested.

The police report said one family member was in the house when the incident occurred but didn't identify the individual.

The arrest report said Eleanor Adderley admitted to shooting the gun but "did not intend to cause any injury." She explained to police that "she was only trying to scare him by shooting the bed and down at the ground," the report said.

It was unclear whether the Beretta was Frank Adderley's service firearm.

At a hearing Wednesday afternoon, Eleanor Adderley walked into the courtroom in a blue jail jumpsuit with a frown on her face. She broke out in a smile at the sight of some relatives and waved her handcuffed hands at them.

Judge Geoffrey Cohen allowed Eleanor Adderley to post $25,000 bail but ordered her to wear an ankle monitor, stay away from her husband and seek psychiatric treatment within a day of release. She must also surrender any firearms and ammunition she may own.

Though her husband didn't appear at the hearing, her attorney, Robert C. Buschel, said the police chief would post the bail. Buschel said she will stay at her Plantation home with relatives and her husband will live elsewhere.

"He wants what's best for his wife and doesn't want to see her go to jail," Buschel said.

Frank Adderley was appointed chief in May after 28 years of working his way up the ranks of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Though he came to power on the heels of a bitter union negotiation, his promotion from assistant chief to chief gave a quick boost in morale among his officers.

The arrest of his wife is the first high-profile crisis he's had to deal with since becoming chief.

The couple have been married since 1991. Their neighbors were shocked by the arrest, saying the pair were always quiet and seemed to get along. Next-door neighbor Regina Keating described the couple as "wonderful neighbors" and said she heard nothing the night of the shooting.

Robert McKinzie Jr., a County Commission candidate who is a neighbor and friend of the Adderleys, said he didn't see or hear anything.

"Great family, and a friend," he said. "And if he's going through something, then my prayers are with him and his family."

Though Frank Adderley was not at work Wednesday, City Manager George Gretsas said Adderley likely won't need to take a leave of absence.

"We're going to take it day-by-day with him. He seemed very strong [Wednesday] and he's obviously focused on his family matter," Gretsas said. "We're going to give him whatever support he needs. Frank will get through this family matter and manage the responsibilities at work. He's going to be OK."

Wife charged with assaulting Fort Lauderdale police chief -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com


My guess is he was cheatin on her.

[NoBrAiNr]

Originally Posted by Dhunter55

My guess is he was cheatin on her.

My first thoughts as well... He's just trying to paint himself as a good guy before all of it comes out.

If this is the case, I hope the 'other woman' was worth it.

[justgotback]

Originally Posted by NoBrAiNr

My first thoughts as well... He's just trying to paint himself as a good guy before all of it comes out.

If this is the case, I hope the 'other woman' was worth it.

She never is.................

[Kaboom]

Bubba gets a promotion, some hottie comes slidin around and Bubba makes a BIG mistake. Has he learned a lesson? Only time will tell. To the Mrs I can only say front-sight press lol.