A Fort Worth police officer was arrested in Colorado on May 15 in connection to a domestic violence incident.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, the Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Department contacted its North Texas counterpart about the arrest of Cpl. James Christopher Howard, 53, on charges of second-degree assault, prohibited use of a firearm, false imprisonment, and domestic violence.
Corporal arrested. pic.twitter.com/lzXMqF5M05
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) May 18, 2022
The Fort Worth Police Department said the incident occurred while Howard was off-duty.
Grande County deputies responded to the scene of the incident in South Fork at about 4 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies found a woman in a car.
Authorities did not reveal the circumstances surrounding the incident or Howard’s role in it. The relationship between Howard and the woman is currently unclear.
Upon learning of his arrest, Fort Worth PD said it immediately began an administrative investigation into the incident.
“The Fort Worth Police Department holds its officers to a high standard both on and off-duty, and does not tolerate criminal misconduct or unethical behavior,” Fort Worth PD said in a statement. “Therefore, a thorough investigation to collect and review the facts and the circumstances of these allegations will be conducted.”
The department added that Howard has since been placed on restricted duty and stripped of all police powers pending criminal and administrative investigations’ findings. The 53-year-old was assigned to the weapons range at the time of his arrest.
Fort Worth police said Howard has been with the department for 26 years.
