Seminole County deputies were called to the home of commission candidate Pernell Bush this week after his estranged wife said he was punching holes in the walls in an angry fit after a court hearing regarding their divorce, according to police and court documents.
Bush was not arrested because he was not a threat to anyone inside the two-story home, sheriff officials said. And his wife was not in the home at the time.
He “is allowed to punch holes in his walls since he is the homeowner,” a deputy sheriff wrote in a report. The incident happened at 10:46 a.m. on Monday.
Bush, 32, said he had no comment about the incident and would only say that the divorce is related to his wife wanting to move to California for her job. The couple had started working on a custody arrangement regarding their infant child, according to a court record.
According to court records, Jalyn Isley, 33, filed for divorce on Aug. 14, just four days before Bush handily defeated attorney Mike Clelland in the Democratic primary, garnering nearly 71% of the votes cast. Isley said the “marriage is irretrievably broken,” in the court filing. She could not be reached for comment.
The couple were married on Jan. 4, 2019, in Orange County, and had a child in December of that year.
The couple bought the 3,831-square-foot home on Emerald Forest Court in the gated Markham Forest subdivision near Sanford on May 15, 2019, for $498,000, according to county records.
The couple tried to refinance the house in January but were rejected by lenders because of Bush’s low credit rating, according to court filings.
The last mortgage payment was made on June 1, and the homeowner’s association dues have not been paid, according to the divorce filings.
A Seminole judge ruled on Monday that the house must be sold after a request from Isley. That same morning soon after the court ruling, Bush arrived at the home, records show.
Isley’s mother, who was in the home with the couple’s child at the time, called her daughter and told her not to come home because Bush was upset.
“The wife’s mother advised [that] the husband was repeatedly punching the walls of the home causing the damage,” according to a document filed by Isley’s attorney. “The mother expressed significant fear of the husband and indicated her concern for the wife’s safety and well-being.”
After deputies arrived, Bush said he was going to leave so he “can calm down,” according to a sheriff’s report.
Bush said Wednesday that the home is now listed for sale to comply with the court order.
Bush said he will find a place to live within District 5 — which includes the communities of Sanford, Heathrow andLake Mary in the northwest portion of Seminole — after he moves out of the home. Seminole commissioners are voted at large but must live in the district they represent.
Bush, who served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine Corps veteran, has a degree in social work from the University of Central Florida and launched his business, K.E.Y. Counseling Solutions in Oviedo, in 2018.
In November 2019, the Orlando Business Journal profiled Bush in an article titled: “Honor, courage & commitment: This young Orlando exec is a leading voice for mental health support” as part of the publication’s 40 Under 40 series.
In July, the Orlando Sentinel’s editorial board endorsed Bush in the Democratic Party primary over Clelland, saying: “There’s a lot to like about Bush. His priorities are on target: Protecting the rural zone, making government more transparent, preserving the environment.”
He filed to run for the Seminole commission on June 8. According to a financial disclosure report, he lists his net worth as $83,338, which includes $20,000 in household items and his business worth $1,925. He states that he has a current annual income of $10,254. He owes $494,587 on the home’s mortgage.
His campaign for the District 5 commission seat has raised a total of $25,750 as of Sept. 4, according to records from the Supervisor of Elections. His opponents are Republican Andria Herr and Libertarian Andre Klass.
“Character counts in elections,” Herr said in a statement about the incident. “We need elected officials with the temperament to serve in good times and bad.”
Libertarian candidate Andre Klass said Thursday that he was not aware of the incident.
“I will keep the Bush family in my prayers, and I hope they will be able to work through this situation,” Klass said.
mcomas@orlandosentinel.com