Cape Coral police officer arrested at home, neighbors shocked

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

People in Officer Timothy Allen's neighborhood were shocked to see police take the officer out of his home and arrest him.

"So around 12:00, I was out doing some landscaping and stuff like that, and then all these police cars just started coming from everywhere, you know? And we're a quiet block here," said Mark Roche of Cape Coral.

Roche said he did not expect Cape Coral police to swarm his street, let alone see them arrest one of their own.

"I saw a female come out and started showing a bloody lip and some scrapes and on her back and motioning like she had been thrown around or whatever," Roche said.

Cape Coral police arrested off-duty officer Timothy Allen on Friday. Roche said he was enjoying his afternoon when this all happened. Allen is accused of abusing his wife.

"They went in and, shortly thereafter, they came out with him in handcuffs," Roche said.

Roche described what Cape Coral police removed from Allen's home.

"His vest, his gun belt, and they took his police car out of the driveway," Roche said.

Cape Coral police released a statement saying, "As Chief, I want to be clear that no one is above the law—regardless of their position or profession."

Neighbors expressed similar feelings to Roche.

"I'm glad to see, though, is that Cape Coral police stand on upholding their police officers just like they do us, right? You know, if we would do something like that, I think we'd be in the same kind of trouble. So I appreciate the chief doing that. And it makes, I think, the community feel better about, you know, things like that," Roche said.

Cape Coral police have not given any updates on this investigation at this time. Allen is on administrative leave.

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