Parma police

Parma police arrested an off-duty Cleveland police officer on suspicion of rape and felonious assault.

(File photo)

PARMA, Ohio -- An off-duty Cleveland police officer was arrested Saturday in connection with the pistol-whipping and sexual assault of his girlfriend, police said.

The officer, who has not been named by Parma or Cleveland police, is being held in the Parma City Jail and is expected to face charges of rape, felonious assault and domestic violence, Parma police Capt. Kevin Riley said.

The 51-year-old officer is accused of pointing a gun at the 42-year-old woman and pistol-whipping her at a house on State Road, according to a Parma police report.

He fired two shots while holding the gun next to the woman, but the shots did not hit her, police said.

The officer is also accused of sexually assaulting the woman during the attack, police said.

Cleveland police spokesman Det. Reginald Lanton said the department is aware of the arrest and that the officer will be placed on unpaid leave while the case is ongoing, since it involves felony charges.

The day before the attack, the officer caught the woman with another man at their home, according to police reports. A family member called police early Saturday to see if they could check on her after not being able to get in touch with her, police reports say.

The family member told police the two had a "volatile relationship," according to police reports.

Parma police went to the home on State Road and found it in "in disarray," police said. They woman had suffered "severe" facial injuries, Riley said.

The woman told police that she was sleeping when the officer attacked her. The officer pistol-whipped her and punched her several times, she told police.

The woman received treatment at MetroHealth.

North Royalton police later arrested the man at gunpoint at a bar on Royalton Road, police reports say. He was brought back to Parma, where was booked into the jail.

Riley said more charges are expected to be filed and that detectives are gathering more evidence while they put together the case.

The officer's name will be released on Tuesday, Riley said.

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