photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Sutagee Anglin

A Lawrence police officer has been granted a diversion in a domestic violence case, where, after an argument, he held a woman down on a couch and didn’t allow her to leave the home.

If Sutagee J. Anglin, 46, of Lawrence, completes the terms of his yearlong diversion — including community service and a substance abuse evaluation — the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office will drop the criminal charge against him, according to the diversion agreement.

As of this week, Anglin remains employed by the Lawrence Police Department, on unpaid administrative leave, Capt. Anthony Brixius said. Brixus said Anglin, a 14-year officer with the department, had previously been on paid leave, which was changed to unpaid leave on Jan. 9.

Anglin’s diversion agreement was filed Jan. 8, according to court records.

Before August of this year, Anglin must complete 20 hours of community service, according to the agreement. In addition to generally following the law, he must also abstain from alcohol, get a substance abuse evaluation and complete all treatment recommendations. If no recommendations are made, he must complete “Drug and Alcohol Information School.”

On Aug. 20, 2018, Anglin was charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor, for an incident involving a family member the previous day. The charge was later amended to criminal restraint, also a misdemeanor.

Anglin admitted in his diversion agreement that the incident began when he and the victim got into an argument. Afraid that Anglin would “become more violent,” the victim tried to call someone to come pick up her and two children. Anglin grabbed the phone out of her hand and, when she tried to get her phone back, “held her down on the couch and would not let her leave the home.”

Anglin was arrested at his home that night and, after appearing in court the next day, released on a $500 personal-recognizance bond.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident, according to the charges.

Anglin has been mentioned in the Journal-World a number of times in his career with the Lawrence Police Department.

He has been commended for on-duty work, including in 2013 for helping to pull an unconscious man from a house fire; in 2012 for his role in disarming a man threatening crowds of downtown pedestrians with a gun and a knife; and in 2007 for helping intercept a suspect who was chasing his ex-girlfriend in a car and forced her off the road in an apparent attempt to harm her.

Also, in 2007, the Journal-World reported that while on patrol Anglin was hit by a reckless driver in a pickup and was hospitalized overnight.