x
Breaking News
More () »

Domestic assault charge dismissed against KPD officer; he remains on leave

Deputies arrested Knoxville Police Department officer Charles T. Roach on a misdemeanor charge in May.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE TUESDAY: A misdemeanor domestic assault charge has been dismissed against a Knoxville Police Department officer.

A judge dismissed the warrant on June 9 in Knox County General Sessions Court against Charles Thomas Roach, 34, after a preliminary hearing that featured testimony from the alleged victim, Roach's wife.

The incident happened early May 18.

Defense attorney Don Bosch said while the couple indeed argued, Roach had not assaulted her or harmed her physically. The warrant stated Roach had broken a bathroom door frame and thrown her cellphone in the bathroom to her. The warrant stated his behavior had put her "in fear."

Both said they'd been drinking earlier, the warrant states.

KPD spokesman Scott Erland said after Roach's arrest, the department put him on administrative leave and suspended his police powers.

"And as of right now, that remains the case," Erland told WBIR on Tuesday.

PREVIOUS REPORT: A Knoxville Police Department officer has been placed on administrative leave with his police powers suspended after Knox County deputies arrested him for domestic assault.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office arrested Charles Roach, who has been with KPD since 2014, charging him with a misdemeanor, according to the arrest report.

Deputies responded to a home in the Halls area around 1:55 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the report. When they arrived, they said they learned Roach woke the victim and the children and started screaming that the victim was "a horrible mother."

The victim then asked for their phone, and Roach told the victim he threw it in the backyard. The victim looked through the backyard and couldn't find the cellphone. The report said the victim then tried to call 911 on a tablet but was not able to. 

The victim then took the children into a bathroom and locked the door to get away from Roach. According to the report, the victim said Roach then broke the door frame and threw their phone into the bathroom. 

The victim told officers that Roach's actions scared them so they called 911. The victim and Roach both admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the night, the report said. 

Roach told officers that it was not a physical dispute, only a verbal one.  

KPD's Internal Affairs Unit said it will conduct an investigation pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Before You Leave, Check This Out