ASHLAND — An Ashland County Sheriff’s detective is on paid leave after being charged with domestic violence.
Brandon Banks, 35, took sick leave while the case filed against him is pending, according to Chief Deputy David Blake.
Court records show Banks faces a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.
Jim Mayer, the attorney representing Brandon Banks, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office responded to Banks’ house on Nov. 25 following a call from Brandon Banks’ wife, Elizabeth. She reported bruising on her forearm, tricep and buttocks area.
“She said there was a disagreement on the 25th,” said Curtis Hall, the road patrol deputy who responded.
Hall provided testimony in a hearing at Ashland Municipal Court before Judge John Good on Nov. 27.
Hall said the disagreement between the married couple of 10 years happened in their basement area over hunting.
Brandon Banks allegedly had flipped over a table during the argument before he pushed his wife on a flight of stairs.
Hall said Elizabeth Banks said there have been other unreported incidents of domestic violence, “mostly pushing and shoving.”
The deputy who responded told the judge during the hearing the incident involved drinking.
“Six beers. But I can’t be sure if he was intoxicated. He has a high tolerance for alcohol,” Hall said, adding Elizabeth Banks said her husband also abuses alcohol and uses marijuana.
When assistant law director Matt Maloney asked Hall if he believed Banks poses a credible threat to harm Mrs. Banks, Hall said he did.
The hearing concluded with Good issuing a temporary protection order between the couple.
It did not involve the couple’s three children and it required Brandon Banks to stay out of the house, to not drink alcohol and to not use marijuana or illegal substances.
The protection order, issued Nov. 27, also permitted Elizabeth Banks to contact her husband.
On Monday, however, Good held a hearing following Elizabeth Banks’ request to terminate the protection order.
She said her husband is seeking professional help for his issues and wants him around to “rebuild our family.”
Good said he will consider the request, pending a drug screen on Brandon Banks.
Court records show a pre-trial for the case has been set for Jan. 5.
Blake, ACSO’s chief deputy, did not provide additional details about Banks’ status with the office.
Ashland Source submitted a public records request for Brandon Banks’ disciplinary file with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The officer responding to the request, however, said “there is no disciplinary record in Brandon Banks file.”
Brandon Banks began working with the sheriff’s office in December 2014 as a corrections officer. In May 2017, he transferred to the enforcement division and became a detective in February 2019.