An Opa-locka police sergeant is charged with physical abuse, domestic violence and threats against family members in incidents that spanned nearly a decade, authorities said Wednesday.
Johane Hendrik Taylor, 36, who was arrested on Tuesday night and taken to Broward Main Jail, is the youngest son of former Opa-locka mayor Myra Taylor and brother of the town’s current mayor, John Taylor.
The policeman also was taken into custody for what appears to be a pattern of beating and abusing his wife and own children, according to the authorities’ report.
Taylor’s wife told police that as early as 2014 her husband started beating her. On this occasion, domestic violence occurred after the two had an argument during which the woman asked the man not to cheat on her and to spend more time with her.
According to her, her husband had not been faithful to her throughout their relationship or marriage. The two have been romantically linked since 2010, but have been married for about six to seven years.
At the time, they were both in the children’s room when he closed the door, put her in a corner and threw himself on her to knock her down and started hitting her with his clenched fists. He hit her on the sides, back and legs, as well as in the lower part of her stomach and in the intimate area. During this time, she asked him to stop hitting her but he did not comply.
But according to the authorities’ report, the couple’s problems continued and in 2017, shortly after they got married, he told her he didn’t want to be with her anymore and wanted some space, so they started sleeping in separate rooms and they divorced unofficially as no legal document was signed.
Another incident took place in 2020, in which Taylor allegedly dragged the victim out of the vehicle, threw her to the ground, and began punching her in the face and sides. All the while in the car, their four children were also sitting in the back seat.
The woman, who was bleeding from both knees and also had bruises on her face, ran to a church to seek help from those inside, according to the authorities’ report.
Further arguments erupted in May last year when his wife told Taylor she no longer wanted to be married to him, prompting him to beat her soundly in front of the children and then in an attempt to kick her out of the house. he dragged her until she passed out near the front door.
According to the police report, it was one of his young children who called 911 after his father ordered him to. By the time the paramedics arrived at the house and the victim regained consciousness and was forced by her husband, she told them she had fallen while mopping the floor and did not need their help .
this past tuesday