A 27-year-old off-duty Skagit County Jail correctional deputy was arrested Thursday, April 18 for charges relating to assault, according to the Mount Vernon Police. He was formally charged in Skagit County Superior Court with 2nd degree assault, domestic violence, on April 19.
Mount Vernon Police were notified around 2:30 a.m. Thursday by the Skagit Valley Emergency Department that a 27-year-old woman had injuries that they were concerned was the result of abuse.
According to court documents, first responders had been called to a residence around 2 a.m. in Mount Vernon. William Roderick Morris, the victim’s husband, reported that she had a laceration to the face after falling on a glass. Both people were intoxicated.
The victim initially refused to speak with law enforcement at the hospital and Morris was asked to leave because of his level of intoxication and the suspected abuse, according to court documents.
During the course of the investigation, Morris told officers that around the time of the incident, he had gone to get water for himself and the victim, according to court documents. She had collided with him in the hallway of the house, causing one of glasses to break and cut her in the face.
The officer asked where he was holding the glasses and Morris responded he had them by his chest. The documents note that Morris should have been holding the glasses near his neck or chin to cause the injury based on the height difference between him and the victim.
When the victim spoke with law enforcement, she explained there had been an argument that resulted in Morris throwing a glass at her, causing the cut to her face, according to court documents. She told officers to look under the rug since she had moved it there to cover up the blood she had been unable to clean up.
In the 911 call taken by Skagit County dispatch, Morris can be heard saying “let me handle this” five different times and telling a slightly different story about what happened, according to court documents.
Morris was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail Thursday afternoon, according to jail records. He later posted a $25,000 bond. A no-contact order with the victim was also issued.
Morris is set to be arraigned Thursday, April 25.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
