Another cop arrested for domestic abuse

A decorated Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy has been accused of threatening to kill his ex-wife with a handgun and assaulting her on several other occasions.

King County detectives arrested deputy Michael J. Mayson on May 13 at a Poulsbo residence, and booked him on suspicion of second-degree assault and felony harassment involving domestic violence allegations.

Clad in standard orange jail garb and escorted by at least three corrections officers, Mayson appeared in Kitsap County Superior Court May 14. Judge Karlynn Haberly set Mayson’s bail at $250,000. He will be held in a jail outside Kitsap County.

He was not charged, but Kitsap County prosecutors said they expected to file formal charges against the 40-year-old deputy late Friday afternoon. Mayson’s arrest and subsequent court appearance is the second case in the past week in which a law enforcement officer was accused of physically abusing his estranged spouse.

Bremerton Police Officer William Cook was also arrested last week, and later charged with assaulting his wife on two occasions.

Both local arrests follow the situation in Tacoma where Police Chief David Brame fatally shot his wife Crystal before turning the gun on himself in Gig Harbor April 26, while their two young children sat in a nearby car. Brame died at the scene, his wife died May 3.

“Current events and publicity always have an effect,” said Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer. “I think the situation down there has focused attention on family violence in general, not just domestic violence. But it’s important in the justice system to take each case on its individual merits.”

Mayson, one of seven deputies to receive the Medal of Valor — the department’s highest honor — is reported to have abused his ex wife on at least three separate occasions over 18 months at a Port Gamble residence.

Although divorced, the couple lived together during the alleged incidents in an effort to mend the marriage, according to reports.

Mayson’s ex-wife said he started to become controlling and abusive during that time. He allegedly threatened to kill them both, allowing family to care for their child.

Mayson allegedly became “enraged” after his ex-wife went on a shopping expedition in December 2001, accusing her of an affair. She told investigators he restrained her with department-issued handcuffs and pointed a gun to the back of her head.

Mayson’s ex-wife told investigators she calmed him down and he took the handcuffs off.

Another incident occurred sometime in February. Mayson allegedly found his ex-wife on the Internet with a friend when he came home while still on shift. He got upset, court papers indicate, because she wasn’t allowed on the Internet when he wasn’t home. Mayson allegedly handcuffed her again and restricted her breathing by covering her mouth and nose with his hands, according to court documents.

His ex-wife was able to eventually calm him down and he eventually went back to work, according to court papers.

Another incident occurred in late March. Mayson’s ex-wife told investigators they were sharing some champagne when he “flipped out,” and started to throw items around the house before attacking her.

Court documents state he grabbed her and threw her into a chair where he slapped her hard across the face several times.

She told investigators he pinned her to the floor, covering her nose and mouth with his hand.

Mayson’s ex-wife ran to a neighbor’s house after he let her up from the floor. From there, she called a friend, who picked her up a short time later.

That friend, according to court papers, took pictures of injuries sustained by Mayson’s ex-wife.

She sought a physician for treatment as well, according to investigators.

The friend told investigators Mayson’s ex-wife asked for a handgun so they could protect themselves the night she fled.

Kitsap County Sheriff’s detectives received a formal complaint from Mayson’s ex-wife on Monday, May 12, and King County Sheriff’s detectives were called after an initial review to conduct an independent investigation to avoid conflict of interest concerns.

Mayson was placed on paid administrative leave that evening. He is to remain on paid leave until the conclusion of the criminal and administrative reviews.

Mayson started his career with Kitsap County in June 1995. He had transferred from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon.

Mayson also worked for the Poulsbo Police department from 1992 to 1993.

The last domestic violence case in the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office led to the firing of Deputy Frank Jermy in 2000 and his conviction for assaulting his wife.

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