PORT ST. LUCIE — A veteran Port St. Lucie police detective was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor battery charge after allegations he hit his wife, a release states.

Detective Paul Knowles, 43, was released from the St. Lucie County jail on $1,500 bail after the incident, police said.

Knowles is in the police department’s special investigations section, which typically works drug-related cases. He was hired in January 2006, according to Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, police spokesman.

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Police about 2:20 a.m. Monday went to Knowles’ home for reports of a domestic disturbance.

“Once on scene officers learned that Knowles and his wife had been engaged in a verbal altercation that turned physical,” a release states. “Police learned that during the physical part of the altercation, Knowles slapped his wife several times before punching her in the face.”

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Police records supervisor Linda Cole said Tuesday afternoon via email she did not have Knowles' arrest affidavit or a report about the incident.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, which historically provided arrest affidavits on a daily basis for those booked in to the St. Lucie County jail, no longer is doing so for arrests made by agencies other than the sheriff's office. The change went into effect Tuesday because of Marsy's Law, an amendment focusing on victim rights.

Sabol declined to release Knowles' booking photo, saying Knowles asked that they not release it.

Knowles’ wife had a cut to her lip, but declined medical attention.

Knowles was placed on unpaid leave.

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