The Palm Beach Gardens police officer is accused of punching a woman Sunday in The Acreage. It does not appear that he was on duty at the time.

THE ACREAGE — A Palm Beach Gardens police officer was arrested Monday after allegedly punching a woman and trying to keep her from calling law enforcement.

Myers McCray II, 25, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail shortly before 6 a.m. Monday on charges of battery and preventing communication with law enforcement. During a bail hearing that morning, Circuit Judge Ted Booras looked at McCray and asked, "Do you work where I think you work?"

McCray nodded.

As Booras explained that he will be released on his own recognizance but cannot have contact with the woman, he paused: "You know how this works."

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State records show that McCray has been with Palm Beach Gardens police since December 2017 after a nine-month stint at the Riviera Beach Police Department.

Palm Beach Gardens police refused to comment on McCray’s status with the department or on the officer’s arrest.

More than a week later, the department released the interoffice memorandum sent to McCray after his arrest. It states that because of the pending litigation he will work a "modified duty," meaning he cannot wear anything from his uniform, take off-duty police detail assignments or represent himself as an officer. He had to turn in his firearm, duty belt and police vehicle, according to the memorandum.

The Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents city police officers, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office records indicate that a woman dialed 911 Sunday night from a home in The Acreage but the call abruptly dropped. When deputies arrived, they saw McCray and a woman walking out of the home. The woman immediately turned away, and McCray approached the deputy.

"We are good," he said. The deputy overheard McCray mention being a Palm Beach Gardens police officer.

It does not appear that McCray was on duty at the time of the incident.

McCray ignored requests to stop approaching the deputy and was handcuffed, according to an arrest report.

The woman apologized for calling 911. She explained away her swollen eye as the result of a fall. McCray said she hurt herself while intoxicated.

About 3 1/2 hours later, the woman called deputies. She said she wanted to tell the truth.

She said McCray repeatedly punched her that night. He was upset that she had danced with another man at a lounge in downtown West Palm Beach. They hit each other on the car ride back from the lounge, she said, and when they arrived at The Acreage home, he grabbed her cellphone.

Then he repeatedly punched her, she said, and when she used her smartwatch to call 911, he took that, too.

The woman declined to speak with The Post.

ohitchcock@pbpost.com

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