Senator angrily confronts domestic violence worker after shelter leadership resignations

State Sen. Tom Wright put his hand on a worker outside Volusia County's only domestic violence shelter Saturday in an angry confrontation that later involved Daytona Beach police, witnesses said.

Wright has been at the center of an implosion of the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County Inc., which oversees the operation and programs at the Beacon Center. Approximately 26 women and children were living there last month in an effort to escape dangerous situations at home and rebuild their lives.

The conflict between Wright and his apparent ally, board chair Carmen Ruiz, led to the recent resignations of CEO Angie Pye, Program Manager Valerie Brooks and several board members.

For several years, the senator, who represents portions of Volusia and Brevard counties, has made false allegations about the Beacon Center, Pye and others told The News-Journal on Saturday.

"He went to the inspector general's office. He had me investigated and told them I was trafficking children and doing drugs with the residents in the shelter," Pye said, adding that there were no such findings and she mostly ignored him even as he continued to make similar allegations elsewhere in the community.

Misty Sanders, a former employee at the Beacon Center, has been attempting to build support around Pye.

"The accusations (Wright) threw around were as absurd then as they are now," Sanders said.

Pye and others said Saturday Daytona Beach police were called to the Beacon Center to investigate the confrontation between Wright and a shelter employee, which can be seen on video provided to The News-Journal by Pye.

Wright was at the Beacon Center to tour the building with the Division of Children and Families, which has oversight of domestic violence shelters in Florida. Because of state confidentiality statutes, the women and children were sent to a bus during the tour.

Wright started to board the bus when a worker told him he was not supposed to enter in order to protect the residents' identities, Pye and others said. Wright can be seen stepping off the bus placing his right hand on the worker's left shoulder or chest as she stepped back. He then stepped away for a moment before returning to yell in her face, as another worker attempted to stand between them.

Daytona Beach police did not respond Saturday to a request for a police report about the incident.

Wright responded to a request for comment with a text, which read, in part: "This is the thanks I get for trying to help DCF in The Beacon Center, and yet nobody but nobody today other than Carmen stood up for me and said no that isn't what happened. So I can't stand up for you all anymore either and I wish you all the best."

Ruiz said she had no comment, other than: "The Beacon Center is focused on taking care of survivors and ensuring continuity of services. ... Our focus needs to be on survivors. We appreciate the community's concerns but we are all working with all necessary agencies to provide (quality) services."

Pye, who has led the shelter since arriving in 2016, wrote that Ruiz "has been participating in activities to defame and intimidate me." Then, Pye said, the board chair attempted to gaslight her by accusing her of the same tactics.

Pye said she sought to mediate the situation, but Ruiz refused.

"There is no reason for me to delay the inevitable as there is no way I would remain at this organization under the current leadership of this board of directors," Pye wrote in her resignation letter. "While I am sure she is focused on not paying the severance package and winning whatever game she is playing, I am focused on ensuring that lifesaving services are continued."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Sen. Tom Wright involved in shakeup at domestic violence shelter