A sergeant with the Seattle Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit was arrested over the weekend for investigation of domestic violence following an incident during Leavenworth’s annual Oktoberfest, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
The officer, who was identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Ronald Lee Murray, is a 28-year veteran of the force, according to Seattle police.
According to Chelan County sheriff’s Detective Jerry Moore, two deputies working at Oktoberfest late Friday saw a man dragging a woman by her hair and jacket through a gravel parking lot. Moore said the woman turned out to be Murray’s 44-year-old girlfriend.
The two were apparently arguing over beer tickets, Moore said.
“Mr. Murray gave away $20 worth of beer tickets and she got upset,” he said. “An argument ensued and then turned physical.”
Deputies noted the woman was intoxicated, according to Moore, but did not indicate whether Murray was intoxicated.
The arresting deputy noted that Murray said he knew he was in the wrong and had no excuse for his behavior, Moore said.
Murray, 55, was arrested without incident and booked on investigation of fourth-degree domestic violence, a gross misdemeanor, Moore said. He later bailed out of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
Seattle police learned of the arrest early Sunday morning, according to a statement. The department has transferred the sergeant out of the Domestic Violence Unit, pending the criminal investigation, police said. A complaint process has been initiated with the department’s Office of Professional Accountability (OPA).
According to police, the OPA will begin a separate administrative investigation into the employee’s conduct following the conclusion of the criminal case.
The Seattle police statement noted that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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