A man who was found guilty of causing the death of his infant son more than a decade ago has been apprehended for a suspected parole violation, which led to a confrontation with law enforcement leaving one officer angered.
Anthony Grove, aged 44, admitted to involuntary manslaughter in 2015 in connection with the passing of his 2-month-old child, Zeeland. He was taken into custody on March 21 in Daytona Beach, as per a social media update from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
During routine patrols in the area, officers came across Grove on the Florida beach and requested his identification. In a video shared by the sheriff’s office, Chief Deputy Brian Henderson mentioned that Grove remained composed as deputies verified his details.
Henderson explained, “We had a substantial increase in deputies assigned to the coastal district, including Daytona Beach, in anticipation of a potentially large and disorderly crowd. Both the sheriff and I were present with our deputies on patrol when we encountered this individual.”
“When I asked him if he had children, it was more of an icebreaker to engage with him,” Henderson shared. “He mentioned having two kids, with one having passed away. I expressed my condolences, not knowing he omitted a crucial detail.”
Expressing his frustration, Henderson added, “As a father, it was infuriating to see someone seeking sympathy from a stranger for the loss of their child, especially knowing they were responsible for the tragedy.”
Following Zeeland’s demise, it was reported that Grove had thrown a ceramic mug at the infant’s mother during an argument, accidentally hitting the baby while she was holding him. The infant succumbed to his injuries the following day after being taken to a hospital.
Grove also admitted to endangering children and was sentenced to eight years in prison, having initially faced a murder charge.
After being released in 2023, Grove was sought for violating his parole. In Florida, he now faces charges such as failure to register properly as a convicted felon and possession of cannabis weighing less than 20 grams, according to reports from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
