Deputy on leave facing domestic violence, assault charges

Corporal Erick E. Eberhard has been placed on paid administrative leave pending misdemeanor and felony charges from an incident May 17. (Photo by Trish Bennett)

CIRCLEVILLE – A Pickaway County Sheriff’s deputy is on paid administrative leave after an alleged domestic violence incident at his home last week.

Corporal Erick E. Eberhard, 35, was arrested after deputies responded to his Pickaway Township home about 11:36 p.m. May 17, according to Sheriff Robert Radcliff.

Eberhard is charged with one count of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; two counts of assault on a peace officer, both fourth-degree felonies; and one count of resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Radcliff said when deputies responded to a call about a domestic disturbance at the residence, Eberhard was in a conflict with family and subsequently with the deputies who responded to the call.

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He said Eberhard had to be subdued at the scene and was transported by the Pickaway Township squad to Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe for evaluation.

Radcliff said Eberhard remained at the hospital overnight, then was booked at the county jail and faced the charges in Circleville Municipal Court through his attorney the following day. He was released on a recognizance bond pending further action in the case.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 7 in Circleville Municipal Court. Radcliff said the incident remains under investigation, both for the criminal charges as well as internal administrative action.

Eberhard joined the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and was assigned as a canine handler for Turpin, a Belgian Malinois, in June of 2012. He earned the rank of corporal in February of 2014.

Radcliff said Turpin has been removed from Eberhard’s home during the investigation and is being cared for off-site.

While the arrest of a fellow deputy is a difficult situation for the rest of the department, Radcliff said he is pleased by the professionalism shown by his staff.

“Our officers were on the scene, and our officers did their job,” he said. “They handled the call, they dealt with [Eberhard] as they would with anyone else, and it all culminated in charges filed against him. They did what they needed to do.”