A Knox County deputy resigned Monday after he was charged with domestic assault and driving under the influence.
Officials arrested Ricky Irwin Jr., 32, on Thursday and charged him with domestic assault, DUI, and interference with emergency calls.
Irwin's wife confronted him at about 7:25 p.m. Thursday in their Emerald Forest Lane home about "his prescription Xanax use," according to warrants. The couple argued, and Irwin apparently pushed his wife when she tried to leave. Warrants show he threw her cell phone on the ground, breaking it.
The couple's 15-year-old son tried to intervene. He told investigators Irwin pushed him down stairs. The teen then tried to "strangle" Irwin from behind to make him stop fighting, and Irwin began punching the teen in the head, according to warrants.
As Irwin left the home with the couple's 8-year-old daughter, he's accused of pushing his wife and son. Irwin came back when officers arrived at their house.
Detectives said they believe Irwin was under the influence of an intoxicant and arrested him. Irwin admitted to police that he took a Xanax and antidepressants, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office placed Irwin on administrative leave with pay since his arrest. On Monday, Irwin resigned. The former deputy had been with the sheriff's office since 2003. In July 2013, Irwin was named the department's officer of the month.
