An El Paso County sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested last week and faces misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly hitting his soon-to-be ex-wife, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette.

Paul Allen Mynatt, 42, was arrested on Saturday after assaulting his estranged wife, as the couple were in the tail end of divorce proceedings and had been separated for several months, according to the affidavit.

El Paso County sheriff’s lieutenant facing domestic violence charges

According to the arrest affidavit, the victim went to Mynatt’s apartment to talk because it was the day of their 10-year anniversary and Mynatt had told the victim “today’s tough for me.” The conversation between Mynatt and the victim began well, but Mynatt began to get upset when he accused the victim of communicating with other men. 

The affidavit states that a verbal altercation began and Mynatt took the victim’s phone to prove that she was speaking with other men. Allegedly, when the victim went to reach for her phone Mynatt pinned her to the ground and struck her in the face with his palm.

When police made contact with the victim, they noted within the affidavit that her upper lip was swollen and bleeding, she had several small scratches on her arms and her right wrist was swollen and red. The affidavit adds that all injuries were “consistent with the struggle she described.”

After the assault, the victim informed police she went back to Mynatt’s apartment because she was still worried about his well-being, but when she returned Mynatt called the police. The victim told police she was “shocked” Mynatt called the police “given what happened.”

Mynatt currently faces one count of misdemeanor assault and one count of misdemeanor harassment involving a strike, shove or kick. Mynatt posted a $3,000 personal recognizance bond to be released from custody the same day of his arrest.

A news release from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office issued on Saturday states that Mynatt, who joined the Sheriff’s Office in February 2007, has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with policy.

Mynatt will return to court Dec. 17.

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