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By Max Roll of the Courier and Press

A former Vanderburgh County Commissioner candidate and Evansville Emergency Management Agency director was arrested Saturday on battery and intimidation charges, police said.

Sherman G. Greer, 67, was lodged in Vanderburgh County jail around 8:30 a.m. after deputies said he slapped his wife and pulled a gun on her while their 12-year-old child was awake in another room, according to a Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. at the couple's residence at 7227 Ashton Park Drive.

Greer told deputies that he and his wife argued after she went out Friday evening without letting him know where she was going or when she would return, according to the affidavit. He said he attempted to wake her by shoving her after she came home and fell asleep, deputies said.

Greer told deputies he shoved her twice and believes he hit her in the top of the head while she was waking up, according to the affidavit. That's when the two began shouting and Greer said he retrieved a handgun from a closet and said, "I just want this to be all over," according to the affidavit.

Greer also told to deputies that he struck his wife in the head with an open hand after they started yelling at each other, according to the affidavit.

Greer's wife summarized the incident similarly but said her husband held the handgun and stated, "I should shoot you right now," according to the affidavit.

Greer faces preliminary charges of domestic battery in the presence of a child and intimidation with a deadly weapon. No bond was set as of Saturday morning. Greer's handgun was seized by deputies and taken to a sheriff's command post.

Greer ran for Vanderburgh County Commissioner from District 2 and lost against Republican Bruce Ungethiem. He was EMA director from 1990 to 2013 until he was forced to resign by Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke over concerns regarding EMA overtime pay and other issues.