Terre Haute PD officer faces felony domestic battery charge

ICN photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News
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A Terre Haute Police Department officer was charged with felony domestic battery last week. He was in court today.

According to online records -- and not any police department,as would be expected -- Jeremy W. Bales, was charged March 3, following a Vigo County Sheriff's Office investigation that he allegedly battered his wife in the presence of children. The charge is a Level 6 felony. The Indiana Central News jail log routinely includes suspects names with this charge. At this point, without formal official comment on the matter, it appears the suspect was given preferential treatment. He was never booked into the Vigo County Jail.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the alleged battery occurred just before midnight at the couple's Bono Road residence.

The suspect's wife was allegedly jealous of other women he reportedly had been interacting with on social media and was confronting him before he allegedly hit her in the thigh with a shoe, leaving red marks and causing bruising.

He had become angry, according to his wife's statements, that she was confronting him and accusing him of  "talking" to other women, and further accusing him of recently going to lunch with at least one. He attempted to leave the room to evade her quarreling. He eventually began to put on his shoes to leave.

According to court documents, she followed him, as did a child. He allegedly struck her with the shoe. He later told investigators that he had swung around and inadvertently struck her with the athletic shoe. She called 911.

The victim told deputy Derek DeHart that Bales "shoved her down by the throat and sat on top of her,screaming in her face." After allegedly calling her a "stupid bitch" and tossing his wedding ring at her, she went outside to wait for police to arrive.