Carmel officer accused of punching wife

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - A Carmel detective is facing a domestic battery charge for allegedly hitting his wife.

Monday afternoon, a judge released Bradley Hedrick from jail on his own recognizance.

The 42-year-old was arrested at his Noblesville home Saturday afternoon.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hedrick’s wife told police her husband pushed her down in a chair. But an eye-witness told police Hedrick hit his wife in the shoulder with a closed fist and that knocked her off balance.

Hedrick told the arresting officer the only time he touched his wife was to keep her from ‘Doing anything stupid.’ He said he grabbed her arms and wrapped her up so she would not hit him.

The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence said cases like this that involve police officers are not unusual. But it is often more difficult for victims to get help.

“It is more dangerous to make that call but resources are available for them. Here in the local community that’s by calling 211,” said Laura Berry, the executive director of Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “I applaud the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. That’s very difficult to arrest a fellow officer.”

Hedrick has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

He's been with the Carmel Police Department for 18 years and is currently an investigator. Carmel Police said he could be called upon to work a domestic violence case. However, they said it is unusual for any of their detectives to deal with domestic violence cases.

Hendricks pretrial hearing has been set for October 20.