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"BSO Deputies describe bloody scene at his home"

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SOUTHWEST RANCHES – Broward
Sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic dispute at the Southwest Ranches home
of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall on April 23 came across a startling
scene and recovered a bloody knife and gun clip, according to never before
released incident reports.
Click Here To Read The Reports
The reports say deputies came
across a “significant pool of blood” and a “solid trail of blood” across the
floors of several rooms throughout the home. Blood was also splattered on the
walls. Marshall
admitted he and his wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, had engaged in an argument
that became “physical.” Even with his admission and the fact that both suffered
cuts and other injuries, only the wife was arrested.
Marshall had cuts to his palms and his wrists
and a stab wound to his stomach. Nogami-Marshall had bruises on her cheek and
cuts on her hand and foot. She also complained of injuries to her legs.
A large bloody knife, a bloody gun
clip, and a handgun were recovered from the home.
Such details were not included in
the single-paragraph incident report, prepared by Det. John Lawrence, that the
Sheriff’s Office has released to the public. South Florida Times has confirmed that
Lawrence was
the lead detective on the case but that at least nine other deputies were on
the scene prior to his arrival. Each of those deputies compiled reports with
graphic details of what occurred.
According to the reports, the
incident began when Nogami-Marshall called 911 and said, “Please come, it’s an
emergency.” When the dispatcher asked for the specific location, she repeated, “Please
come, it’s an emergency,” and then the phone was hung up. BSO deputies were
then dispatched to the Marshalls
residence.
Deputies mobilized outside the
home that afternoon and a standoff was underway until Marshall called Kevin Swanson, a BSO sergeant
who was off-duty at the time, to intervene.
Swanson directed deputies not to
approach the home until he arrived. Deputies complied but continued trying to reach
someone inside the residence by phone and a video call box located at the front
gate of the house. Sgt. Eric Caldwell arrived
on the scene and learned of Swanson’s orders. After waiting “approximately
about eight more minutes” and learning Swanson was coming from his home, Caldwell disregarded
Swanson’s order and directed deputies to enter the yard.
As they approached the home from
different directions, Caldwell
peered through the glass front door and saw blood on floors and walls. The home
had been the subject of previous 911 domestic violence calls, so Caldwell ordered deputies
to pull back. He then called for a K-9, paramedics, and back up from tactical units.
As deputies arrived and moved
into position, Swanson showed up in plainclothes driving an unmarked vehicle.
He was on the phone with Marshall, who directed him and another deputy to the
rear of the home and let them in.
“As I entered the residence, I
observed a large white bed comforter on the foyer floor and several small spots
of blood around it’s (sic) perimeter,” Sgt. Craig McCormick wrote in his
report. “I observed a large quantity of blood on the white tile floor; from the
kitchen area, through the front living room area to the entrance to the hall
connecting the master suite.”
Other deputies and paramedics
also entered the home. One deputy noted bruises on Nogami-Marshall’s cheek and
other injuries. Several other deputies gave accounts about a bloody 13-inch knife
and a bloody gun clip .
“In the hallway near the front
door, I also observed a large kitchen knife covered with blood and a small, but
loaded magazine, from an unknown firearm,” wrote Deputy Roberto Aspuru. “I also
noted that although the magazine is able to hold a total of 6 rounds, there
were only 5 rounds accounted for. In addition, there was blood on the magazine
as well.”
Swanson asked Marshall about weapons in the house. Marshall then took Swanson
to his bedroom closet and retrieved a handgun from inside a clothes drawer. The
magazine clip was missing. Swanson reported there was one bullet in the gun’s
chamber, which he removed before placing it into evidence.
Marshall told deputies his injuries were from
a broken vase. He also said he did not want anything to happen to his wife. Paramedics
treated both of them on the scene and Marshall
signed a release declining to be transported to the hospital. Swanson, however,
advised him that he could be forced to accept medical attention under the Baker
Act, which allows for involuntary treatment, and later gave him an escort to
the hospital.
“I transported Brandon
from his house to the front gate of his community to meet his friend who then
transported him to Broward
General Medical Center,” Swanson wrote in his report. “I
had the pair follow me to the hospital as his friend did not know where Broward
General was or how to get there and I needed to ensure that he actually went to
receive the care necessary.”
BSO officials say Swanson is not
under any type of scrutiny for his actions during the incident.
“It’s a gated community so the
sergeant transported him outside to meet EMS
[paramedics],” BSO director of media relations Jim Leljedal said. “It isn’t
something we ordinarily do but, because there was a gate that was closed, it
was the most expeditious thing to do.”
However, according to the
reports, paramedics arrived shortly after deputies entered the home. They
treated Marshall and his wife while they were in the house. Nogami-Marshall
received additional medical attention. Marshall
needed more serious care and Swanson escorted the vehicle he was riding in to Broward Medical
Center in Fort Lauderdale.
Nogami-Marshall was arrested and
charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. However, citing
conflicting evidence, prosecutors with the Broward State Attorney’s Office
dropped the charge on July 29.
National Football League
officials declined comment on the incident when contacted by South Florida
Times this week. Messages left at the Marshalls
residence were not returned. Miami Dolphins officials said the issue has been resolved
and any conversations they had with Marshall
were “internal and private.”
“As far as we’re concerned it’s a
closed matter,” said Harvey Greene, the Miami Dolphins’ senior vice president for
media relations.
Prosecutors declined comment when
asked if they were aware of the supplemental reports which show Marshall admitted the two
were in an argument that became “physical” and that bloody weapons were taken
from the scene.
“I have nothing to say about it,”
state attorney spokesman Ron Ishoy said.
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