BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Bedford Heights police officer charged in a domestic violence incident has been suspended from the department three other times, including after an incident involving his ex-wife, records show.

Patrolman Douglas Dardzinski, 39, is serving an unpaid suspension as the Bedford Heights Police Department conducts an internal investigation into a suspected Dec. 9 domestic violence incident in Canton. Dardzinski is accused of choking a woman and slamming her head into a wall during that incident, according to a police report.

Dardzinski has served three suspensions and received more than a half-dozen letters of reprimand since joining the Bedford Heights Police Department on Oct. 25, 2004, a review of his personnel file shows.

The most serious of those suspensions came after officers found Dardzinski "acting strangely" outside his ex-wife's house Oct. 14, 2014 in Solon. A Bedford Heights supervisor later found prescription pills in Dardzinski's pocket, according to a Solon police report and documents included in the personnel file.

The incident did not result in criminal charges but Dardzinski received a two-week unpaid suspension for violating the department's standards of conduct and standard operating policy and procedures, records show.

"Your conduct on Oct. 14, 2014 seriously jeopardized the health, safety and welfare of you, members of your family and members of the public." Bedford Heights Mayor Fletcher Berger wrote in a Jan. 20, 2015 letter to Dardzinski.

Berger mandated that a doctor approve Dardzinski's return to duty. The personnel file does not include any mention of his return to work until Nov. 28, 2015.

Bedford Heights Law Director Ross Cirincione did not respond to a request for comment. Police Chief Michael Marotta is on vacation and could not be reached, a police dispatcher said.

Dardzinski was suspended two other times during his career in Bedford Heights:

Dardzinski surrendered three vacation days in lieu of serving a three-day suspension for backing his police cruiser into a concrete barrier Sept. 2, 2011.

Dardzinski served a one-day suspension after a man reported that Dardzinski assaulted him June 23, 2006 at King's Gym in Bedford Heights. An internal review determined Dardzinski's actions were improper but not criminal, records show.

Dardzinski's personnel file includes several letters of reprimand. On Dec. 15, 2006, the Bedford Municipal Court dismissed a case after Dardzinski failed to show up on time for a criminal trial, records show.

On Feb. 4, 2013, Dardzinski pursued a car through seven cities before the driver crashed Cleveland. The chase reached 95 mph and Cleveland officers called off the chase even as Dardzinski continued his pursuit, records show. He received a letter of reprimand for the incident.

The personnel file also includes several letters of appreciation from citizens and supervisors. Those include an April 1, 2016 letter from a resident thanking him for helping her change a tire and a Dec. 12, 2012 letter complimenting his performance in arresting a hit-and-run suspect.

The Bedford Heights Police Department is still investigating the Dec. 9 incident that led to Dardzinski being charged with domestic violence in Canton. He is also facing domestic violence and kidnapping charges in Akron in connection with the same incident.

The woman suffered bruises on her face, arms and shoulders, a Stark County Sheriff's Office deputy wrote in the report.

Defense attorney William Vasiliou said Tuesday that Dardzinski is planning to contest the charges. Dardzinski is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 9 in Canton Municipal Court; his next appearance in Akron Municipal Court has not been scheduled, records show.

"There are two sides to every story," Vasiliou said. "We look forward to being able to present our version of the events."

The woman who filed the domestic violence complaint said Dardzinski attacked her on several times after she told him she wanted to break up with him. Dardzinski also threatened to send private photos and videos to her coworkers if she reported the attacks, the woman told sheriff's deputies.

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