An Orange County Deputy Sheriff was arrested today, accused of battering his wife.
35-year-old Sergeant Donald Woods was transported to the Orange County Jail without incident, after investigators went to his home and learned that he had physically abused his wife.
Mrs. Woods told investigators that Sergeant Woods “slapped her with his open hand,” after accusing her of having an affair, according to the arrest affidavit. Mrs. Woods also told detectives that her husband threatened to take their children away and told her she would never see them again.
According to the arrest report, Mrs. Woods said she had been struck in the back of the head and slapped on several occasions by her husband. At one point, she said, Woods threw a laptop computer and struck her in the back.
Woods, who initially cooperated with investigators, denied seeing his wife yesterday, but later said he had. He also denied hitting her.
Investigators arrested Woods and charged him with battery.
Woods is a 13-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He has been relieved of law enforcement duties and will be re-assigned to administrative duties, pending the conclusion of an investigation. The Professional Standards Unit of the Sheriff’s Office will also be conducting its own internal investigation.
