Officer ‘detains’ wife, assaults her as she’s handcuffed, Texas cops say. He’s charged

A rookie police officer was arrested and relieved of his duties following the alleged assault of his wife, Texas authorities say.

Jonathan Torres, a member of the Houston Police Department since August, was charged with assault of a family member and unlawful restraint following an Oct. 1 incident in a Baytown home, police said.

Torres, who was off duty, slammed a laptop shut on his wife’s hands, causing “visible injury,” according to court documents.

“(He) then told her she was going to jail and put a handcuff on one of her wrists to ‘detain’ her,” police said.

When the woman tried to leave, Torres pulled on the handcuffs, causing her to fall to the ground, authorities said. He then pinned her on her stomach and threatened to tase her if she did not comply with his commands, according to the complaint.

The wife was “crying and screaming for help” while pinned to the ground, police said, adding that she sustained “pain and physical injuries.”

It’s unclear what led to the alleged assault.

Torres, a 24-year-old probationary police officer assigned to the department’s Midwest patrol division, was arrested but is no longer listed in the Harris County Jail as of Oct. 3.

He was ordered to not have any contact with the victim and to not return to the home, court records show.