Friday, September 12, 2008

Sgt. James Pence Arrested for Domestic Violence

A Springfield police sergeant has been arrested and charged with domestic violence in Portage.

Sgt. James Pence, 37, was arrested after an incident in Portage Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday in Kalamazoo County, Springfield Public Safety Director Rob Coles confirmed. A spokesman for the Portage Police Department could not be reached Wednesday.

Coles, reached while on vacation and out of the city, said he was not aware of details of the incident, which apparently occurred at Spence's home.

A warrant is also being sought by Battle Creek police against Pence for stalking and making harassing phone calls to a former girlfriend in Battle Creek, according to Commander James Saylor of the Battle Creek Police Department.

Information on that incident at a home Pence once shared with the woman on Clubhouse Drive early Tuesday afternoon, is being reviewed by the Calhoun County Prosecutor, Saylor said.

Pence is already serving a 14-day suspension from the department for an unrelated off-duty incident, Coles said, and is scheduled to return to work Sept. 17.

Department officials are collecting information on the Tuesday incidents and will conduct their own department investigation, the chief said.

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