WASHINGTON — A 911 call from the wife of Anne Arundel County’s elected sheriff contradicts statements that she and the sheriff have made since his misdemeanor assault arrest earlier this month.
Sheriff Ron Bateman was arrested April 10 for assaulting his wife, Elsie. Both have said that Bateman did not hit his wife.
But in her 911 call to police, Elsie Bateman can be heard telling dispatchers, “The sheriff is drunk, and he just punched me in the eye.”
The redacted call was released Wednesday.
Arguing can be heard on the recording and the sheriff’s wife is heard saying, “Don’t come near me,” and “I’m on the phone with the cops.”
When the dispatcher asks if anyone in the house has any weapons, Elsie Bateman says, “Well he’s the sheriff, he’s got guns everywhere, yeah.”
At the end of the call, Elsie tells the dispatcher she will meet police outside, in front of the couple’s Pasadena home.
During a brief news conference a few days after his arrest, the sheriff said his wife had recanted her statements to police, and he said he never assaulted her.
Elsie Bateman also released a written statement that said in part, “At no point in the argument did Ron punch or hit or kick me.”
Anne Arundel County police, a separate agency from the sheriff’s office, have said that the state’s attorney will decide whether or not to proceed with the criminal case.
Bateman has said that he will continue to serve as the county’s sheriff but Col. Paul Tabor took over the day-to-day operations.
