A Douglas police officer has resigned following an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend, who is also a Douglas police officer. The Douglas Police Department has opened an investigation into the incident and allegations that surfaced as a result.
The incident occurred Saturday afternoon. According to an incident report obtained from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, a Douglas police officer called a deputy (not 911) shortly after 6 p.m. on April 8, 2023, stating that her boyfriend, Joseph Brown, 28, had “jumped on her and she needed the law.” The officer headed to the residence where the incident allegedly occurred.
When the deputy arrived, the victim told him that Brown had gotten mad at her because deputies had been at her shift brief the previous evening and she did not inform him of that until Saturday.
They argued, the report says, then the victim ultimately told Brown to leave. The victim reported that Brown started throwing things in the home, which is what resulted in the victim asking him to leave. Brown grabbed a few things and, as he was leaving, he punched the victim in the face, according to the report. Then Brown pushed her to the floor and started slapping her, the report states. The victim fought back, ripping Brown’s shirt in an effort to get him off of her. Brown then left the house. As he did, the report says, the victim threw a candle at him but missed. He came back and tried unsuccessfully to kick the victim. Brown left the home after that, the victim stated.
The officer noticed that the victim had injuries to her cheek and upper lip.
The deputy found Brown and spoke to him about what happened. There were some similarities and some differences in his account. They argued then, as Brown was packing clothes to leave, he said that she started throwing his clothes and telling him not to take anything he didn’t pay for. As he was leaving, he said the victim grabbed his shirt and ripped it. According to the report, he attempted to push her away. She then threw a candle at him and punched him in the face. Brown stated that the victim threw a second candle at him when he was outside. He left the house then decided to come back, the report states.
The deputy reported that he did not see any cuts or swelling on Brown’s lip. However, Brown said this was not the first such dispute they’ve had. In the past, neither one had ever called authorities. Brown stated that in previous altercations, the victim stabbed him in the arm and had also cut his eye. Brown showed the deputy a scar on his arm and another near one of his eyes. The report says that Brown showed no signs of having been hit by the victim in the dispute. A child was at the home when the alleged incident took place but was outside at the time and did not see anything.
Both Brown and the victim said they didn’t want to press charges against the other. However, Brown was charged with battery and transported to the Coffee County Jail. He has since been released.
A spokesman for the Douglas Police Department said that Brown has resigned from his position as police officer and the department is investigating the allegations that have surfaced as a result of the incident.