A Cincinnati police officer is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in Fairfield Township, according to court filings.
The officer is charged with misdemeanor domestic violence in Butler County Area Court.
A criminal complaint states that the officer pulled his girlfriend’s hair and jerked her back while she was trying to exit his parked truck during an argument on Aug. 23.
After the officer released the woman, he chased her in his truck through the grass, causing her to believe he would strike her with his vehicle, police said in the complaint.
He then exited the truck and grabbed the woman in an attempt to retrieve his phone, according to the court document. While struggling over the phone, she was cut by the officer’s watch and he struck her in the lip, police said.
Court records identified the man as a police officer. The Enquirer generally does not name individuals who have been charged with misdemeanors.
Cincinnati police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham said the officer’s police powers have been suspended and he has been assigned to administrative duty during the court proceedings.
Court filings show that a magistrate initially set his bond at $7,500 during an initial appearance on Aug. 25. However, the records also indicate that the officer was granted release from the Butler County Jail on his own recognizance.
As of the evening of Aug. 27, jail records listed the officer as still being in custody. A jail sergeant did not immediately respond to a phone call from The Enquirer seeking information about the officer’s incarceration status.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati cop accused of domestic violence, police powers suspended