The Paden City police chief allegedly slammed his wife into a wall, forced her onto the floor of a vehicle, tackled her, choked her and hit her in the face.
Joseph Lee Richardson, 33, of Friendly, is charged with domestic battery and unlawful restraint, according to a criminal complaint provided by Janie Moore, director of magistrate services for the West Virginia Supreme Court.
West Virginia State Police responded Sunday night just before midnight to the couple's home on Ripentuck Road. Tyler County deputies were already on scene.
Police found blood on the porch, front door and inside the kitchen and bathroom, as well as a large hole in the drywall of a bedroom, according to the complaint. They also saw debris throughout, suggesting physical violence.
Tyler County dispatch told the officers that Richardson had been stopped by a Sistersville police officer at the Wilson Campground, in Davenport.
Once there, troopers spoke with the alleged victim, who told them that the violence began at about 11:30 p.m., the complaint states. Richardson allegedly tackled his wife in the yard and then, once they were inside, slammed her into the bedroom wall. The woman also said her husband punched numerous objects, according to the complaint.
He also allegedly forced her into a vehicle by stuffing her onto the floor of the backseat after she called an ex-boyfriend to ask for help. As he drove around, she wanted to try to jump out of the vehicle but she said he kept speeding up, according to the complaint. She was finally able to escape the vehicle and run, but he allegedly caught her and tackled her to the ground.
He then grabbed the woman around the throat, to keep her from screaming for help, and forced her into the vehicle again, according to the complaint. She escaped a second time but was allegedly tackled again.
Police said they saw a cut on the woman's upper lip and saw that she had a chipped front tooth. She reportedly told them the injuries were inflicted when Richardson hit her in the face.
Richardson was arraigned Monday, incarcerated and released after paying $10,000 bail, according to D. Luke Furbee, Tyler County's prosecuting attorney. He also was ordered to surrender all firearms to the State Police.
On Tuesday, Furbee requested to be recused from the case. Tyler Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Cramer granted the request.
"I have other cases he's involved in as a witness right now," Furbee said. "It has the potential to be a conflict, and it was appropriate to make the request."
Paden City Mayor John Hopkins said Monday that Richardson has been suspended. A special council meeting to address the issue is planned for Thursday.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazette.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.