BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Brevard County deputy is accused of throwing his estranged wife to the ground and was arrested Tuesday, Brevard County Sheriff's Wayne Ivey said.
Deputy Richard Lemons and his estranged wife were arguing on May 23 in the parking lot of his apartment complex when the incident was reported, Melbourne police said.
When Melbourne police first responded, they only spoke with Lemons about a disturbance. The victim was not present when they arrived, according to the arrest report.
Police came back to the apartment complex two hours later after receiving a call from Lemons estranged wife, who was making a complaint of battery against him.
Lemons told police that he came home to find his estranged wife and his daughter arguing and that he confronted the victim because he did not know how she found out where he was living.
Lemons' daughter told police that during the argument, he grabbed the victim by her arm and wrist and threw her to the ground. The daughter showed police how Lemons placed his knee behind the victim to keep her on the ground.
Police said they saw fresh cuts and bruises on her wrists, arms and legs.
Lemons told police that while arguing with his wife, she was expressive, taking with her hands, and scratched his sunglass lens. He said while he was trying to restrain her, they fell on the ground.
When asked why he did not mention the physical confrontation the first time, Lemons said he "did not want to cause us the work of creating a domestic violence report and just wanted her trespassed," police wrote in the arrest report.
Lemons is charged one count of armed battery, because he was in full uniform and in possession of a weapon when the alleged battery happened.
Because Lemons and the victim are still legally married, the incident is considered an act of domestic violence.
“I’m not going to tolerate that I expected our deputies to be absolute professionals both on and off duty,” Ivey said.
Lemons was honored by the Sheriff's Office in 2013 with the Meritorious Service Award and was deputy of the month of April of the same year.