 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Dembrow Files Assault Charge Against Wife |
| Posted - April 03, 2002 9:21am
|
 |
 |
Rockville, Md. (AP) - State Delegate Dana Dembrow filed a second-degree assault charge against his wife hours after publicly apologizing for hitting her.
Dembrow said in a statement filed Monday at 7 p.m. in Rockville District Court that his wife, Suzette Diane Dembrow, was a former professional boxer who becomes violent when she gets angry.
The Montgomery County Democrat, 48, admits slapping his wife once Sunday during an argument at home about their marriage. They were married in 1988 and have two daughters.
"It was a disgraceful and humiliating act on my part, and I deeply regret it," Dembrow said at the time.
But on Monday, he claimed that his wife struck him and taunted him to "go ahead" and hit her back.
Dembrow also said he told her to refrain from hitting him again. But, he said, she struck him again, "deliberately and viciously hard in the face."
He said it wasn't the first time she had hit him.
"She has been under a lot of stress recently and has become violent toward me when she becomes angry," said the legislator, who described his 39-year-old wife as a blonde with a "beautiful complexion."
Montgomery County Council member Howard A. Denis called for Dembrow's resignation from the General Assembly.
Dembrow is a four-term Democrat who represents District 20. Denis is a Republican who represents Potomac, Bethesda and Chevy Chase on the county council.
Denis cited "the all-too-prevalent problem of domestic violence in our society" in a statement issued Tuesday.
"Clearly," Denis said, "Mr. Dembrow cannot continue to be effective or credible in that role. For the good of all Marylanders and the citizens of Montgomery County (he) should resign from the Maryland General Assembly and seek the treatment he so obviously needs. ..."
When police responded to separate 911 calls placed a minute apart by the Dembrows on Sunday night, they found Suzette Dembrow on the front porch of their Schubert Drive home with a towel on her face, covering a half-inch cut on her nose and swollen eye sockets, police said.
She said she didn't understand why police were charging her husband criminally, saying "he has apologized to me, to the people out there, and we're moving on."
When she was called Tuesday about his charge against her, she said she had no comment.
Montgomery County police said they arrested the legislator based on their investigation.
"If there is evidence of physical injury, the officers are required by law to make an arrest," said Montgomery County Police spokesman Capt. William O'Toole.
Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler has asked Frederick County State's Attorney Scott Rolle to handle the prosecution because of a possible conflict of interest. Both Gansler and Dembrow are democrats.
Deputy State's Attorney Katherine Winfree said "there would be an independent evaluation about who should be prosecuted, both Mr. and Mrs. Dembrow, or neither?"
During his 16 years in the General Assembly, Dembrow frequently has offered amendments that diluted bills dealing with drunken driving and domestic violence. He also has a history of supporting measures aimed at helping victims, including a favorable vote he cast this year for a bill that would enable domestic violence victims to secure protective orders on weekends.
» Find More Articles Related To This One
» Search The Internet For More On This Topic
» Need A Break? Play Some Card Games From ABC 7
|
© Copyright 2002
by The Associated Press
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
| [1 total msgs] |
Winstrv
Member
IP: logged
Posted: 04/03 11:30a
|
|
Two wrongs don't make it right. Regardless of the circumstances, he should not have hit her. He should of walked away and called the police. Again, he is a lawmaker, not a lawbreaker. Needs to resign. He is not above the law.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
