EVERETT — The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is investigating one of its own after allegations that an off-duty deputy assaulted his wife last Thursday night.
The sheriff’s office did not release the deputy’s name Monday because he has not been charged with a crime, sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
But court and jail records indicate Rex Haunold, 35, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree domestic violence assault and booked into jail late Friday night. An Everett District Court judge on Sunday found there was probable cause to hold him on $10,000 bail. He posted bail and was later freed.
The deputy’s wife told a family friend, who also is a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy, that “there was an incident between her and her husband at their house and that he put a knife to her throat,” Hover said.
The woman reported she was scratched but not otherwise injured. She left the house after that, but did not call police, Hover said.
It is unclear how the scratch happened, Hover said.
Second-degree assault is a felony.
The deputy who spoke with the woman reported what he was told to others at the sheriff’s office.
Deputies went to the suspect’s house in unincorporated Snohomish County and arrested him. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail and was held as a courtesy in the Marysville City Jail, officials said. The sheriff’s office operates the county jail.
“We are investigating the incident,” Hover said. “Events unfolded quickly Friday evening, and we felt we needed to act on the information we had.”
After 15 years of marriage, the deputy’s wife in October filed court papers seeking a legal separation. After his arrest on Friday, the deputy immediately was placed on paid administrative leave while detectives investigate the allegations against him. Meanwhile, sheriff’s officials expect to conduct an internal investigation to determine if any department policies have been violated.
He has been on the force for four years.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
