Police officer was on duty when he attacked domestic partner at their home, SC cops say
A police officer was on duty when he attacked his domestic partner at their shared home, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Kyle Richard Horton, a 42-year-old Ridgeland resident, was arrested Tuesday on a second-degree domestic violence charge, SLED said in a news release.
Horton was a member of the Ridgeland Police Department when the July 17 attack occurred, according to an arrest warrant.
He was “actively working a shift” when he and the victim had an argument in their shared home, the arrest warrant shows. The argument turned into a physical altercation when Horton choked and pushed the victim into a closet shelf where the victim suffered a head injury, according to the arrest warrant.
Information about why Horton and the victim were arguing was not available.
Horton’s body worn camera activated during the attack, and part of the violent incident was recorded, the arrest warrant says.
Photos taken of the victim the day after the attack showed they suffered injuries on the arm and neck, according to the arrest warrant. Further information on the victim’s condition was not available.
No other injuries were reported.
Horton is not currently listed on the Jasper County Detention Center inmate roster, and there was no information about bond in online Jasper County court records.
If convicted on the misdemeanor domestic violence charge, Horton faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to South Carolina law.
SLED called Horton a former Ridgeland police officer. He voluntarily left the department on July 19, according to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
Records show that Horton committed a policy violation, and that was listed as the reason for separation from the Ridgeland Police Department. Horton’s violation is that he was considered AWOL, having left the jurisdiction without permission or notification of a supervisor, according to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
On Monday, Horton became a member of the Gifford Police Department, and he’s currently active as a Class 1 law enforcement officer, South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy records show. Gifford is in Hampton County.
He was hired even though the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy listed Horton as the subject of a pending criminal investigation.
Horton previously had two stints working with both the Ridgeland Police Department and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, according to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
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This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 2:02 PM.
