A Carter County deputy has been suspended from duty following his arrest on a charge of domestic assault.
Officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Deputy Michael K. Freeman, 34, of Johnson City, on Nov. 16 and charged him with one count of simple domestic assault.
On Monday, Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford confirmed Freeman had been placed on administrative leave without pay “pending the outcome of an internal investigation and pending the criminal investigation by the Johnson City Police Department.”
Freeman was arrested inside the city limits of Johnson City but in a part of the city which lies in Carter County. Following his arrest, Freeman was booked into the Carter County Jail. He was released on Nov. 17 after posting a $3,000 bond.
Officers responded to Freeman’s residence shortly before 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 and spoke to Freeman’s wife, who reported he had assaulted her.
“She stated they had been arguing all morning and that it kept getting worse,” JCPD Officer Brian Moore said in the warrant for Freeman’s arrest. The woman said she was in the closet getting Freeman’s clothes when he forcefully grabbed her from behind and slung her to the side. Police said she had red marks on both sides of her waist.
Freeman told police he pulled his wife away from the closet to keep her from destroying his clothes. He said she started to fall so he grabbed her to keep her from falling, Moore said in the warrant.
Despite the arrest and being placed on administrative leave, Lunceford said Freeman is considered innocent until proved guilty.
Freeman is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court for arraignment today.