A Cincinnati police officer is behind bars after an alleged domestic altercation has surfaced. Thomas Back, the officer in question, is facing domestic violence charges after his girlfriend accused him of physically assaulting her. Local12 reports that during an argument, Back prevented his girlfriend from leaving his truck by forcibly grabbing her hair and jerking her back.
After she escaped from the truck, Back reportedly took the pursuit onto the grass in his vehicle, causing his girlfriend to fear being struck, as described in the complaint filed by the Cincinnati police, which has already led to Back being stripped of his police powers and reassigned to administrative duties. The woman, who at that time managed to get out of the truck, was chased by Back, driving onto the grass after her, as mentioned in the court documents obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer. The documents also allege that he then exited his truck, tried to retrieve his phone, and, in the ensuing struggle, cut her lip.
The incident, which took place on August 23, was first reported to authorities by a passing motorist who witnessed the altercation on State Route Four. The concerned driver dialed 911, sharing with the dispatcher, "We kind of stopped because there was a domestic violence situation going on the side of the road." As reported by WLWT, the caller detailed seeing Back's truck pull onto a grassy area and described a woman screaming and running towards a wooded area before Back intercepted her.
The situation escalated after an unsuccessful FaceTime attempt with another female sparked the dispute, the girlfriend told police in interviews obtained by WLWT. Back's girlfriend claimed, "An argument happened when she picked up Thomas's cell phone after another woman attempted to Facetime him while they were driving." In light of the charges, a judge set Back's bond at $7,500 and issued a temporary protective order, though Back was subsequently released on his own recognizance. Adding to the severity of the case, Back, who has been a veteran officer, is now waiting for the court proceedings while on administrative assignment, as confirmed by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Jonathan Cunningham to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Back's tenure with the police department has now taken a turn into administrative limbo, where Back has been placed on administrative duty and his police powers have been suspended pending further investigation and court proceedings. His arrest and court appearance have begun a judicial process that will determine his future both as a citizen and a law enforcement officer.
