Police detective John Brawley was placed on administrative leave following his arrest for domestic assault.
John Robert Brawley, Jr., a detective with the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD), was arrested by Benton Police officers on January 8, 2020. The arrest took place after officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence on Robinwood Court in Benton, Arkansas. The 40-year old detective was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault in the third degree on a family or household member.
LRPD spokesperson Eric Barnes said that Detective Brawley had been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation by the LRPD Professional Standards Section.
Little Rock Detective Brawley was arguing with his wife over anabolic steroids.
The official arrest report from the Benton Police Department revealed that the domestic disturbance revolved around Detective Brawley’s alleged use of anabolic steroids.
Angela Browley, the detective’s wife, was reportedly upset over her husband’s use of anabolic steroids. She discovered a bag of what she suspected were oral steroid pills in his gym bag. Brawley had previously used steroids but his wife thought that he had stopped.
Angela confronted and asked her husband if he was using steroids once again. Angela did not want her husband to use steroids. The argument escalated to the point where Detective Brawley pushed his wife outside the doorway of their home around midnight.
The domestic disturbance occurred in the presence of Angela’s daughter. The daughter did not witness the assault but heard her mother tell Detective Brawley to stop pushing her. The daughter called 911 following her mother’s instructions.
Angela told Benton Police that she did not believe her husband intended to hurt her. However, officers were still required to automatically arrest Detective Brawley due to the allegation of physical contact.
Detective Brawley was booked at the Saline County Jail. He was immediately released on bond. Brawley is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on February 10, 2020.