A Newport News man was arrested after being accused of assault by a woman he once had a relationship with, Newport News police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
The man, 41-year-old Earl Dean McNair of Newport News, listed his occupation as deputy sergeant in the Newport News police arrest report, and Poquoson police confirmed McNair worked for the Poquoson Police Department.
Police responded to a report of domestic assault in the 500 block of Pagewood Drive at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Thurston said. A 40-year-old Newport News woman told responding officers that McNair had come to her residence to discuss reconciling their relationship, police said.
The woman told police McNair jumped on top of her and choked her. The woman said McNair got off of her and took her cellphone after she grabbed it.
Police took McNair into custody at the victim’s residence and charged him with one count each of assault, strangulation, abduction and preventing the victim from using her cellphone. McNair is currently being held in Newport News City Jail.
McNair has been placed on administrative leave from Poquoson police, pending the outcome of an internal/administrative investigation into this incident, according to a release from Poquoson police spokesman Clifford Bowen.
Bowen said reports of McNair’s arrest were surprising to the department, calling it “totally out of character for the man that we know.”
McNair joined the Poquoson Police Department in March 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in January 2016, Bowen said.
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