In many cases of reported domestic violence, police will make an arrest as quickly as possible in order to protect the alleged victim from further harm. However, despite these arrests, there can be many questions lingering as to whether a domestic assault in fact occurred. In these cases, it is essential to understand what facts Colorado police are basing their arrest on to ensure that the person arrested is in fact guilty of a crime.
A former police officer was recently arrested on a domestic violence charge that involved his wife. Police responded to home where the woman claimed that the man had threatened to kill himself with a knife. The woman tried to stop the man from doing so and was allegedly cut by the knife.
Police stated that there were nine children in the home at the time of the assault. It is unclear what relation the children had to the defendant and his wife. The man was taken into custody and was held without bail at a local jail.
Police claim that many of the children witnessed the domestic assault occur. However, it remains unclear exactly what they saw and whether the man intended to harm his wife or whether the cut was a result of an accident. These details will need to be ironed out in the weeks to come, as they could show something contrary to what the police are alleging. If certain evidence does tend to negate the guilt of the defendant, this could prove to be a substantial hurdle for Colorado prosecutors to cross in order for them to meet their heavy burden of proof.
Source: The Gazette, “Former police officer arrested in domestic violence case in Colorado Springs,” Andrea Sinclair, July 17, 2013
