Prosecutors in Florida have dropped the battery charge against Boston Heights Police Chief Chad McArdle, who had been accused of assaulting a homeless man outside a bar in July. The decision to drop the charge came after the victim’s death, which was unrelated to the incident. As a result, prosecutors stated that there was no way to prove the case.
The dismissal of the charge raises questions about how it will affect McArdle’s position in Boston Heights. Following the incident, Mayor Bill Goncy had placed him on administrative leave. However, it is unclear whether McArdle will be reinstated or face any other consequences now that the charge has been dropped.
The incident took place in Key West, where McArdle was reported to have banged on a taxi driver’s door claiming to have been stabbed in the face and chest. However, police found no evidence of stab wounds and only observed minor scratches on his face and arm. McArdle told police that he had been pushed out of the bar and into a car by two men who then stabbed him with a stick.
Unable to provide specific details about the stick or the vehicle, McArdle claimed to have managed to grab the stick from one of the offenders and stab him in the throat before being dragged out of the car and assaulted by two men in an alley. Police later found a homeless man named Joe Jones who identified McArdle as the individual who had attacked him and pressed charges.
Following Jones’ identification, McArdle was arrested and charged with battery. However, with the victim’s death and the subsequent inability to prove the case, prosecutors chose to drop the charge.
McArdle has yet to make a statement on the matter, and both Mayor Goncy and his attorney, Alan Fowler, have not responded to requests for comment.
The dismissal of the charge against Chief McArdle has raised questions about the outcome of this case in Boston Heights. While the dropped charge suggests a lack of evidence, it remains to be seen how the community and local authorities will respond to this development. As the story develops, it will be interesting to see whether McArdle will face any disciplinary or legal consequences in light of these recent events.
