- April 19, 2024
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In an Aug. 8 letter to the Florida Commission on Offender Review, Sheriff Rick Staly wrote that he vehemently opposes the release of inmate Bruce H. Grove Jr., who was sentenced to prison in the death of Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Charles “Chuck” Sease in 2003. Grove is seeking a “Commutation of Sentence” which, if granted, would allow him to be immediately released without serving his full prison sentence.
Sease was killed in the early morning hours of July 6, 2003, when Grove deliberately struck Sease with a stolen vehicle while fleeing law enforcement after a domestic disturbance. At the time of his murder, Sease was trying to pace a tire-deflating device on the roadway to stop Grove. Grove had led law enforcement on a more than 6-mile chase at speeds over 90 mph, including driving south in the northbound lanes of I-95. Season's actions ultimately cost him his life but likely saved many others.
In 2005, Grove was convicted of Manslaughter of a Law Enforcement Officer, felony Fleeing Law Enforcement, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and felony Driving While License Suspended and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is currently being held at the Florida Department of Corrections Taylor Annex. His current release date is Jan. 26, 2033.
“Inmate Grove Jr. needs to continue to be held accountable for his actions and remain in prison,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Deputy Sease made the ultimate sacrifice serving our community, and his death deserves justice. Denying his release tells law enforcement officers their lives matter and reminds offenders that killing a law enforcement officer has serious consequences.”
At the time of his murder, Sease was a newlywed and had been with FCSO for two months. He was a veteran law enforcement officer, having previously served five years as a police officer in Connecticut.
