Officers accused of damaging woman's home

Two Daytona Beach police officers are accused of breaking the law and were arrested Thursday.

Donald Aldridge and Justin Ranum are accused of causing $1,400 worth of damage to a woman's home while looking for a suspect.

Sandra Headley was home Aug. 9 when the officers were looking for a suspect inside her neighbor's Daytona Beach mobile home.

"It was a loud noise -- bang, bang, bang, bang," Headley said.

It happened in the Yankee mobile home park.

The homeowner was not home at the time, but gave officers permission to search for her roommate.

John Pitman, the homeowner's brother, lives across the street and witnessed the entire incident.

"They put their 911 on that building over there," Pitman said.

Both Pitman and Headley said officers used flashlights and nightsticks, beating on the trailer, tearing out a window screen and more.

"Put holes on the walls, and tried to bend that door in half, but they couldn't get the door in half, but it was really bad," Pitman said.

Investigators said the strong arm of the law in this case went beyond policy.

"They violated policy and they also broke the law," said Sgt. Jimmie Flynt from the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Both officers were arrested and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail.

They were also suspended from their jobs with pay.

“They're on admin duty and they haven't been convicted of a crime also,” Flynt said.

"They're not supposed to destroy people's private property," Headley said.

According to the police report, Aldridge and Ranum were charged with felony criminal mischief.

Bond was set at $1,000 for both officers, who have since bonded out of jail.