Officer's uniform cut off during arrest for domestic violence


Footage from the Rio Rancho Police Department in New Mexico. It shows the arrest of Albuquerque Police Officer Jeffrey Wharton prior to his shift beginning. He was taken into custody by detectives of the Rio Rancho Police Department.

The on duty arrest was due to a warrant for his arrest from the Rio Rancho PD. According to the criminal complaint, Wharton beat his girlfriend so badly, she had several gashes on her head and face. Police say her injuries were so severe, she had to be taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed. Some of the domestic incident was captured on the couples "RING" doorbell system.

When Officer Wharton arrived for his shift at an area substation Rio Rancho Police officers were waiting for him armed with a felony warrant. At one point you'll see they removed his duty belt and searched him. After the search they are seen on lapel video cutting off his fully marked uniform shirt. Wharton was lead out of the substation to a waiting cruiser.

He was booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center on charges of Kidnapping (First Degree) (NO Intent to Commit Sex Offense), Aggravated Battery (great bodily harm) (household member), Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member (Strangulation or Suffocation), Aggravated Battery (great bodily harm) (household member), Tampering with Evidence (Highest Crime a Capital, First or Second Degree and Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon (Unsafe Handling). Wharton resigned from APD shortly after this arrest. APD says Wharton had been with the department since November 2010. He was a senior officer with the department. His trial is pending.