Indian River County sheriff's sergeant charged with domestic violence battery

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 23-year veteran of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Friday on a domestic violence battery charge, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sebastian police overnight got a warrant after developing probable cause for the arrest of Sgt. John David Cronenberg, who is assigned to court security.

The warrant was issued Friday morning, and Cronenberg, 51, surrendered to authorities at the Indian River County Jail.

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Cronenberg, who was released on $500 bail, has been placed on administrative leave, said Maj. Eric Flowers, sheriff's spokesman. The battery charge is a misdemeanor, usually punishable by a fine or a light jail term.

An arrest photo was not on the sheriff's booking site. Cronenberg's address and the address of where the incident is said to have occurred is not on the records released by the Sheriff's Office.

According to records, about 3:30 a.m. Friday, Sebastian police got a report of a woman battered during a disturbance.

The woman had injuries to her forehead and face, which investigators report came from Cronenberg “'smashing’ her head into the sidewalk and ground.” She said she “can’t lie” in identifying the person responsible, but didn’t want to ruin his career.

The woman, who was described as uncooperative, had a bruise to her forehead the size of a golf ball. There was a 1-inch cut that “bled profusely.” The left side of her face was swollen and bruised, records show.

She reported the pain was a “10 out of 10 in intensity” to staff at Sebastian River Medical Center. She gave the hospital a fake identity when she got there.

It's not the first time Cronenberg has experienced problems.

In April 2012, Cronenberg was suspended three days for driving his mistress around in his work vehicle, according to an Indian River County Sheriff's Office internal affairs report.

He also was investigated for having sex in a take-home sport utility vehicle, but that accusation of intentional abuse of a Sheriff's Office vehicle was not sustained, the report said.

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More recently, Cronenberg made headlines in 2017.

Cronenberg, at the time president of the local chapter of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club, had organized a “Blue Lives Matter” rally in April 2017 as a way to bring the community together.

Then, Deputy Garry Chambliss was fatally injured by a stray bullet fired about 100 yards away from the scene of a roadside argument about 9:30 p.m. Feb. 17 while he was off-duty visiting friends on 28th Avenue in Gifford.

Cronenberg, who used to work in the Indian River County Jail with Chambliss, decided to help the slain deputy’s family.

“I did get to know Garry very well,” Cronenberg said at the time. “(This event) has a soft spot for me.”

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