New York man arrested for threatening to kill woman/children

A 29-year-old man wanted out of New York was arrested Tuesday night in Key Largo after threatening to kill his girlfriend and her children.

Steven Anthony Colella was charged with aggravated assault and giving law enforcement a false name. He was also arrested on an extraditable warrant for violation of parole out of New York state.

Deputy Jamie Miller was called to a Key Largo gas station at 9 p.m. where a clerk shared some text messages she received from a coworker. The coworker’s texts stated that she was being threatened by her boyfriend and that her boyfriend was going to kill her, her children and her dogs. The clerk stated she has been aware of her coworker’s plight with her boyfriend for a few weeks. The clerk added she was concerned for her coworker and asked Deputy Miller to check on her coworker. The clerk provided the coworker’s home street name and description of the vehicle parked out front, which included a New York license plate.

Deputy Miller and Sgt. Orlando Alvarez responded to the home matching the description located nearby on Andros Road. As they approached, Deputy Miller saw the front door was open and saw a woman near the doorway. Deputy Miller also saw a man near the kitchen. Deputy Miller heard the woman scream, “Put down the knife!” Deputy Miller then witnessed the man run back toward the rear of the residence. Deputy Miller and Sgt. Alvarez rushed the front door at that time.

The male was given loud verbal commands to come out of a back room with his hands up, and he complied after a brief moment. He was taken into custody at that time.

The man stated he had been arguing with his girlfriend. Deputy Miller asked if he had threatened his girlfriend at any time. The man denied making the threats. The man told Deputy Miller his name was “Anthony Jeffrey Taylor” as well as a date of birth and social security number. Multiple attempts of running that name via records resulted in no record being found in Florida. The man stated he had identification out of New York, which also resulted in no record.

Sgt. Alvarez, meanwhile, spoke to the girlfriend. She stated “Anthony” was mopping the floor when she let the dogs inside from the outside, which enraged “Anthony.” The girlfriend stated he picked up a knife and threatened to kill the two dogs. The girlfriend stated she told “Anthony” to put the knife down — the moment Deputy Miller and Sgt. Alvarez arrived on scene. The girlfriend stated she was fearful of him given he contacted one of his friends in New York earlier and gave his friend her information. The girlfriend stated he gave his New York friend her identifying information so his associate could come to Key Largo, kill her and her family. She stated the suspect has gang affiliations in New York. She also indicated that had Deputy Miller and Sgt. Alvarez not arrived, she and her family would have died.

Two knives were found in the kitchen and taken into evidence. The window screen in the back room was removed and furniture moved, suggesting someone was attempting to exit via the window.

Once at the jail, Sheriff’s Office Corrections Deputies identified “Anthony” as Steven Anthony Colella. Corrections Deputies also informed Deputy Miller and Sgt. Alvarez that Colella that New York authorities wished Colella to be extradited to that state regarding that parole violation.

Colella was booked into jail.

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