Background: West Country Club Road in Aventura, Florida (Google Maps). Inset: Andrew Zelmanowitz (Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation/WPLG).
A Florida attorney accused of holding a gun to his wife’s head after assaulting her may have a long history of domestic violence, according to police.
Andrew Zelmanowitz, 42, is accused of second degree felony robbery, depriving a victim of medical care, and misdemeanor assault, Miami-Dade County Court Records show. According to local ABC affiliate WPLG, Zelmanowitz’s wife went to police on Wednesday and told them he has “continuously beaten her” — and that things had escalated.
The station, citing an arrest report, says that the violence began at around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday when Zelmanowitz’s wife, who is not identified in the story, asked him to read a note to her.
“Zelmanowitz arose from the bed, grabbed [her] by the throat and began choking and pushing her,” the arrest report says, according to WPLG. “As a result her head had struck the television.”
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The attorney’s wife reportedly tried to call 911 “while Zelmanowitz continued to push her,” the report says. He “forcefully” pulled his wife’s from her hand, and when she tried to run, he allegedly shoved her into their closet, “causing her to hit the shelves, and proceeded to shove her to the floor.”
He then allegedly threatened her life.
“I will kill you,” he said after physically getting on top of his wife, according to the arrest report. He allegedly continued to choke her at that time. Although his wife screamed for help, Zelmanowitz covered her mouth with his hands, the report said.
Seconds later, the lawyer got off his wife and grabbed his gun from a safe. He allegedly placed the gun on the floor next to his wife’s head.
According to police, the victim told them she had previously taken the bullets and hid them because of her husband’s violent past, and she wasn’t sure if he pointed it at her, as she was face down and crying at that point.
Zelmanowitz’s wife was eventually able to flee the bedroom. Police reported seeing bruises on her forearms and upper arms. Zelmanowitz was eventually arrested Thursday after getting home from work. Police reportedly said he tried to leave as a police car approached, but he was pulled over.
WPLG reported that the couple has two children together, but the children did not witness the alleged attack.
Zelmanowitz was reportedly booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $6,000 bond. Records indicate that he is no longer in custody, and was issued a “stay away order” as part of his pretrial release conditions.
The Florida Bar lists Zelmanowitz as an attorney in good standing and an employee of the Berger Singerman law firm in Fort Lauderdale. He was admitted to practice law in the state in 2009 and does not have a disciplinary record.
WPLG reported that the Berger Singerman website described Zelmanowitz as a partner and member of the firm’s dispute resolution team, but his profile appeared to have been taken down as of Saturday afternoon.
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