Officer Richard Evans Arrested for Domestic Violence

A Columbus police officer was arrested on domestic-violence charges after an incident Monday morning at his ex-wife's home in Delaware County.

Richard L. Evans, 41, of 250 East St. in Sunbury, is charged with aggravated menacing, menacing by stalking, domestic violence and two counts of violating a protection order.

A judge ordered the 17-year Police Division veteran to submit to continuous GPS monitoring, to not have any weapons, and to stay away from his ex-wife, Laura L. Evans, who also is a Columbus police officer.

Richard Evans pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanors in Delaware County Municipal Court yesterday. He was being held in the Delaware County jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.

Columbus police supervisors were notified of Evans' arrest on Monday, said Sgt. Rich Weiner, police spokesman.

A report on the incident gave no details, other than to say that Evans threatened his ex-wife. Delaware County Sheriff Walter L. Davis III did not return a phone call requesting information.

Evans already was under duty restrictions and not allowed to carry a gun because of a protection order prohibiting him from contact with his ex-wife, said Sgt. Jim Gilbert, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9.

Delaware County court records show that Laura L. Evans obtained a protection order against her ex-husband on Nov. 23. The couple's marriage ended with a dissolution May 14, 2009, according to Franklin County court records.

After the criminal case is settled, the police internal affairs bureau will investigate Monday's incident, Weiner said.

Evans could face discipline depending on what the investigation finds and what supervisors decide.

The FOP will represent Evans in his administrative cases with the Columbus police, Gilbert said. But he said that Evans is responsible for his own legal representation in the criminal cases in Delaware County.

The couple attended the Columbus Police Academy in 1992, and supervisors then said they were the first husband and wife to go through the training together.

Before that, they both worked as correction officers in Delaware County, according to a 1993 story in The Dispatch.