Gary police arrested one of their own early Thursday.
Patrolman Jason Johnson, 32, is charged with domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, according to charging documents.
When police first arrived at Johnson’s Glen Park home shortly before 1 a.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance there, his wife denied she had been assaulted, court records state. Her husband was also at their home at that time.
After Johnson left, however, his wife and her mother told Lt. Dawn Westerfield they had more information. Westerfield and Sgt. Michael Barnes heard a detailed account of the incident. Johnson’s mother-in-law had called police because she heard parts of the fight after her daughter called her while the couple argued, the probable cause affidavit states.
Johnson’s wife said she was asleep in bed when he came home and told her he wanted her out, saying, “I’m not going to live in a house like this no more You need to get your stuff and leave,” the probable cause affidavit states. She told him she wouldn’t leave, and he pulled her out of bed, wrapped his hands around her neck and forced her into the bathroom. By this time, she had called her mother, who could hear the activity, the report says. At some point, Johnson took the phone from her, the report states.
After throwing a drinking glass at her husband “to keep him back from her,” the woman said she was able to run to the living room, where he “tackled her,” then walked out of the house, court records state. She said she followed him and tried to get her phone back while he looked for his keys, but he pushed her down. She tried again to get her phone but he closed the car door on her hand, the charging information states.
While police spoke to the woman at the scene, Jason Johnson returned and was arrested. Police noted his wife had marks on her neck. Although she refused medical treatment Thursday, the charging affidavit states, “This is not the first episode of violence between the two of them. She stated on prior incidents she required hospital attention but did not file any police reports as she is afraid of Jason Johnson and what may come of her involving the police.”
The case is filed in Lake Superior Court, County Division, and will be heard by Judge Jesse Villalpando in Hammond, court records show. A protective order will be requested by prosecutors when Johnson makes his next court appearance, Lake County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Barbara McConnell said Thursday.
The couple were married in December 2013, court records state.
Johnson has been on sick leave since early this month. When he is released to return to work, he will be reassigned from his regular patrol duties, Cmdr. Samuel Roberts said.
Johnson joined the department 2009. In November 2012, he participated in recording a rap video while on duty. The video included shots of Johnson and his squad car. He was suspended for 60 days without pay in 2013 after admitting he violated four police commission rules.