A police captain from Alabama finds himself on administrative leave after spending a full day in jail, facing allegations of assaulting his girlfriend by strangulation.

Kermit Thomas “Kip” Hart III, aged 57, holds the position of captain in the Criminal Investigations Division at the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Ironically, he was the one incarcerated on charges related to domestic violence. As reported by AL.com and according to court documents, officers were dispatched to a woman’s residence just after midnight on a Sunday. The woman, who has chosen to remain unnamed, accused Hart of strangling her. In a desperate escape, she reportedly fled to a neighbor’s home clad only in a shirt and underwear. The couple’s relationship had begun in 2019, according to the woman’s statement to the police.

The woman suspected infidelity, believing Hart was exchanging messages with another woman. Seizing the opportunity while he slept, she accessed his phone.

She informed authorities that although Hart had been unfaithful before, they had reconciled until about three weeks ago. She claimed she saw Hart “deleting messages” and noticed communication with another woman via a Google texting app.

According to the police report, as the woman browsed through Hart’s phone, he awoke and allegedly attacked her by placing his hands around her neck. She further alleged that he threw her to the floor and, upon her attempt to stand, he supposedly attempted to strangle her again by applying a headlock.

The woman told police that she struggled to scream for help, but when she tried, Hart allegedly put his hands over her mouth and told her to “Shut the f— up.”

According to police, they saw red marks on the woman’s neck and “dried blood underneath her right nostril, possibly from Hart covering her mouth and nose.”

Police caught up with Hart around 3 a.m. and took him into custody. During his interview, Hart told police that he woke up to the woman hitting him on the head and accusing him of talking to another woman. Police wrote that they saw “redness and swelling” on the left sides of his neck and face.

Hart denied to police that he strangled the women, but admitted to “wrapp[ing] her up” and covering her mouth with his hands when she screamed.

Hart was arrested and charged with domestic violence strangulation. After spending 24 hours on a domestic violence hold at the Tuscaloosa County Jail, he posted $5,000 bond and was released early Monday morning. He was placed on administrative leave by the Tuscaloosa Police Department.