Madeline Buckley

madeline.buckley@indystar.com

An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer is accused of battering his estranged wife in a probable cause affidavit that details a string of violent encounters that span several years.

Daniel Bullman, 33, was arrested Wednesday. He faces 13 charges, including kidnapping, domestic battery and neglect of a dependent.

Some incidents alleged in the probable cause affidavit are:

During a trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2015, Bullman's wife told police, he grabbed her by the hair, pushed her down onto the bed and dumped a bottle of water on her face, calling her a degrading name.

In May 2013, Bullman got into an argument with his wife and told her to "get on her knees on all fours and bark like a dog."

During another argument in 2013, Bullman's wife told police, he pointed a gun at the head of their young child while she slept.

In July 2014, he is accused of punching his wife in her face, grabbing her by her hair and dragging her across the bedroom.

Bullman's wife told police he put an IMPD duty handgun to her head and said, "You know you make me do this, right?"

The woman told police that Bullman, with whom she has two children, began to get physical with her in 2010. They separated in 2013, she reported, after he hit her twice in front of the children. He agreed to receive counseling, so the couple reunited, she told police.

He grew more violent in 2015, though, she told police, reporting that he became more erratic and delusional, the probable cause affidavit says.

She told police she didn't previously report any incidents because he repeatedly told her: "Even if you tell somebody, they're not going to believe you. I'm the police," the affidavit says.

The woman sought a protective order on May 10 after she reported she received threatening text messages from Bullman. IMPD Chief Troy Riggs suspended Bullman without pay on May 11, police said.

Court records show that Bullman was taken into custody and diverted to Marion County Community Corrections.

His charges, a mix of felonies and misdemeanors, include: neglect of a dependent, four counts of domestic battery, kidnapping, battery in the presence of a child, two counts of criminal confinement, pointing a firearm at another person, intimidation, battery and battery with bodily injury.

The case was investigated by the IMPD Special Investigation Unit.

Call IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.

How cyberthreats persuaded a Plainfield mom to homeschool her kids