A Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputy found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly using questionable methods to enter his estranged wife's home. Curtis Ray Hankins Sr., 54, reportedly arrived unannounced at the residence in Tuolumne County, where he had not lived for several months. According to ABC10, Hankins, still donning his uniform and arriving in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, claimed he intended to move back in, citing financial pressures from ongoing civil divorce proceedings. The reported incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
The estranged wife, who had been on the phone with deputies at the time, informed them that Hankins was actively trying to gain entry into her home. While still en route, the deputies were updated that Hankins had managed to unlock the door, allegedly through an unconventional method involving the dog door. The incident led the woman to seek refuge at a neighbor's house. This sequence of events was detailed by FOX40.
Upon arrival, deputies were confronted with a situation where they had to determine the legitimacy of Hankins' presence in the home, as it was still partially owned by him. Despite the joint ownership, the woman had a protective order against Hankins, and she promptly exercised her right to perform a citizen's arrest. Following the arrest, Hankins was transported to the Dambacher Detention Center, as confirmed by law enforcement authorities in statements obtained by both ABC10 and FOX40.
While being processed, Hankins stated to officers that he is currently employed by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff's Office has not released a statement concerning the arrest. Nevertheless, his firearm and department vehicle were transferred to his employing agency for safekeeping. The property in question remains a point of contention in the couple's civil proceedings. Hankins now faces potential legal consequences pending the outcome of both the criminal investigation and the ongoing civil case.
