CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former Cleveland police officer awaiting trial on rape and assault charges cut off a GPS ankle monitor and disappeared this weekend.

A U.S. Marshals task force is searching for Tommie Griffin III, 52, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said Monday morning.

Griffin, whose last known address was on Pleasant Lake Boulevard, should be considered armed and dangerous, the Marshals said.

Griffin was set to begin trial Oct. 30 on multiple counts of rape, kidnapping, felonious assault and domestic violence in the January attack on his 42-year-old girlfriend.

Griffin has been on house arrest since posting bond in March, after his defense attorney convinced Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Clancy to lower his bond from $250,000 to 10 percent of $200,000.

The attorney, Patrick Leary, argued in a motion for the bond reduction that Griffin was not a flight risk.

Leary could not be immediately reached for comment Monday morning.

Clancy found Griffin violated terms of his bond and approved a warrant for his arrest on Saturday, according to court records.

The attack came the day after Griffin found his girlfriend with another man inside their home on Jan. 13, court records say.

Griffin, in his police uniform, pistol-whipped her with his service weapon and punched her in the face several times, according to prosecutors. He also fired two shots into the mattress, inches from her head, court records say.

He ordered the woman to take a shower, then forced her to the basement, pointed the gun at her again, forced her to perform a sex act on him at gunpoint, according to police.

Police later seized more than 60 guns from his home, including including 50 pistols, five assault rifles and a submachine gun.

He resigned his position with the department in March.

Griffin was hired as a Cleveland police officer in 1994. He was awarded the department's distinguished service medal in 2009.

The Marshals ask anyone with information about Griffin's whereabouts to call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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