Police officer accused of kicking wife in head

A Louisville Metro Police officer allegedly kicked his wife in the head, punched her and tried to choke her during a fight on the side of the road, after they'd crashed their car while leaving a Super Bowl party Sunday night.

Officer Jonathan Osborne, a nine-year veteran of the department, then allegedly spit on the deputies attempting to arrest him and tried to kick the window of their patrol car as they took him to jail, according to court records.

He remains in the Clark County jail on charges of aggravated battery, battery, domestic battery, criminal recklessness, public intoxication and resisting law enforcement. He appeared in a Clark County courtroom Monday afternoon, and is scheduled to return for a hearing Wednesday.

Osborne, a 34-year-old patrol officer in the first division, has been assigned to administrative duty, the Louisville Metro Police Department said Monday. The department has launched an internal investigation.

Osborne's wife told deputies that she was driving him home from a Super Bowl party, when he "suddenly became very angry and punched her in the right side of the face," according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Clark County Sheriff's Deputy Barret Cook. She swerved and crashed into a tractor parked at Ray's Lawn and Garden Center near Sellersburg.

Louis Mossey and Victoria Wimp were driving just behind them, and pulled over to render assistance. They told police the Osbornes crashed in front of them as they were driving west on Ind. 403. Wimp said Jonathan Osborne told her to shut up when she stopped and asked if they were alright.

Mossey then walked around the other side of the Osbornes' vehicle, noticing what he said looked to be Sharon Osborne's hair on the ground.

"He said Mrs. Osborne was on her hands and feet trying to retrieve some papers when Mr. Osborn kicked Mrs. Osborne in the head in what was described to me as a 'football-style' kick, causing Mrs. Osborne to fall backwards. Mr. Mossey then said Mr. Osborne moved over top of Mrs. Osborne and tried to choke her out," Cook wrote.

Sharon Osborne said Mossey tackled him, the affidavit states, holding him down until police arrived around 11:45 p.m.

New Chapel EMS transported Sharon Osborne to Clark Memorial Hospital to be treated for her injuries, including possibly a broken left arm, as well as swelling and red marks.

Police said Jonathan Osborne, who appeared to be intoxicated and smelled of alcohol, tried to spit on them so they put a spit shield on his face. Cook said he also later tied a strap around the handcuffed Osborne's feet after he tried to kick out the police cruiser window while Cook was taking him to jail.

The Charlestown Fire Department and gas utility workers from Vectren helped shut off a natural gas leak at Ray's Lawn and Garden, where the tractor made contact with the building.

The Clark County Sheriff's office declined to comment further.

On Monday, Jonathan Osborne made an appearance with his attorney, Bart Betteau, in Clark Circuit Court 1, where Judge Andrew Adams set a $30,000 cash bond.

Reporter Claire Galofaro contributed to this report. Charlie White can be reached at (812) 949-4026 or on Twitter @c_write

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