A sergeant with the Portland Police Bureau was arrested Thursday evening in Ridgefield after allegations of a domestic violence assault.
According to a Portland police news release, James J. Morris, 49, was arrested by Ridgefield police on suspicion of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, which is generally prosecuted as a gross misdemeanor. He was booked into the Clark County Jail, where he remained in custody Friday morning pending an afternoon appearance in Clark County District Court.
Police were called about 9 p.m. for a report of a disturbance at a home near downtown Ridgefield, which Morris and his wife of 19 years have owned since 2003.
The caller said she head a woman yelling, “Get off of me!” and a man yelling, “Ouch, ouch!” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in District Court.
Responding officers found the couple in the front yard. Morris’ wife said she was walking away from her husband when he shoved her hard in the back, causing her to fall into an air conditioner unit. Police said she had redness on her back and shoulder area, the affidavit states.
Morris told police she fell over some tires, and when she started to get up, he spun around and she fell again. He denied hitting her, court records say.
The couple said they had walked out into the backyard during an argument and that is where the alleged incident occurred, according to court documents.
Police determined Morris was the primary aggressor and arrested him.
He appeared Friday afternoon in District Court, where he was granted release on his own recognizance. He is not to have contact with his wife and was ordered to return Sept. 13 to Battle Ground Municipal Court.
Morris is a 20-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau and is assigned to the Forensic Evidence Division. He was placed on paid administrative leave and has had his police powers temporarily suspended pending an internal investigation.
Editor Craig Brown contributed to this report.
