Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- An off-duty Springdale police officer, Britt Ballard, was arrested for investigation domestic violence.
- Charges include weapon threats, spitting and violence in front of children.
- Ballard is on paid leave pending an internal investigation.
HURRICANE — An off-duty officer with the Springdale Police Department was arrested over the weekend in a domestic violence investigation.
Britt Tony Ballard, 40, was arrested Sunday and charged Monday in 5th District Court with threatening to use a weapon during a fight and spitting in a person's face, class A misdemeanors; and making a threat of violence and six counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, class B misdemeanors.
His initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Hurricane police were called to a residence on a report of a family fight on Sunday at about 11 p.m.
Ballard's wife told officers "they had been having a nice evening," but when she went to caress her husband's cheek, "she stated Britt had been chewing his fingernail and spit the fingernail at her face," a police booking affidavit states.
This led to an argument, during which "Britt's wife and other family members reported seeing Britt produce a handgun," the affidavit states.
"Britt reportedly was pointing a holstered handgun at the ceiling, saying he would blow someone's brain if they came at him," the affidavit continues, adding that "another daughter reported hearing Britt say he would knock her mother out."
Ballard then allegedly told a son-in-law to leave the house, according to the affidavit. After yelling at the man, Ballard placed his hands on the son-in-law's shoulders. He responded by hitting Ballard in the face, the affidavit states.
"Britt ended up on his back with multiple family members sitting on him and hitting him. Reportedly, all of the adults in the home had been intoxicated," according to the affidavit.
In addition to the adults, police say six children were in the home at the time.
"I determined Britt had been the primary aggressor and placed him under arrest," a Hurricane officer wrote in the affidavit.
Springdale Police Chief Garen Brecke told the St. George News that Ballard has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
