Vero Beach businessman was wrongfully arrested by Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Cavanaugh for felony child neglect. Kovaleski’s civil rights were violated by Cavanaugh who barged into his home without a warrant or probable cause for an arrest, handcuffed Mr. Kovaleski in front of his very young children, then falsified an arrest affidavit and provided false testimony in court to justify the arrest. Little did the deputy know, Kovaleski had home video surveillance showing Cavanaugh lied. This federal civil rights case settled for $500,000 before trial.









