NBC2 News: Collier Commissioner arrested on charges of domestic violence

Reporter Ryan Arbogast

An arrest warrant has been issued for Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro for a battery offense.

According to the Naples Police Department, the warrant stems from a reported physical altercation between LoCastro and a female acquaintance on Oct. 28, 2023.

A report states that LoCastro and his girlfriend engaged in a verbal fight at the London Club in Naples.

LoCastro claimed it started because she was too drunk. According to NPD, she ripped his pants and had a bloody nose. LoCastro reportedly said it was because of her medical condition.

That same night, LoCastro claimed she opened the door of a moving car and fell out twice, once on the road and another time in a bush.

She at first said LoCastro did nothing wrong; however, on the morning of Nov. 3, she went to report a prior battery.

According to the NPD report, she claimed she received texts from LoCastro’s ex-girlfriends and LoCastro broke up with her.

She also claimed that she didn’t fall out of the vehicle, but LoCastro tore her out of it and that she didn’t have a medical condition.

Police said case documents were sent to the State Attorney’s Office for review following an NPD investigation. Due to LoCastro’s position as a political official, the investigation was then sent to the governor’s office for reassignment.

LoCastro’s case was then reassigned to the prosecutor’s office of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Monroe County).

The assistant state attorney then determined there was probable cause for LoCastro’s arrest for battery.

NPD said LoCastro is not in custody at this time. LoCastro was absent from Tuesday morning’s commissioner meeting.

According to Collier County commissioners, LoCastro suffered a medical emergency.

LoCastro was elected to be the District 1 Commissioner for Collier County in 2020. He presides over East Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, Isles of Capri and Port of the Islands.