By Matthew Hill
OAK HILL — The resignation last week of an Oak Hill police officer plagued with legal woes has merely provided additional impetus to a police department’s already eager search for new recruits.
Police chief Mike Whisman confirmed Friday that Sgt. Scott Tygrett, 36, of Fayetteville, personally delivered a letter of resignation to him on Aug. 4. Tygrett was already on paid administrative leave following his July 7 arrest on charges of domestic battery and burglary.
Tygrett faces a preliminary hearing before a Raleigh County magistrate next month that has already been postponed twice.
“He didn’t really give a reason why. It just said, ‘After much consideration,’” Whisman explained.
“We’ve been going through a hiring process and giving out applications (for new officers).”
The deadline to apply was Tuesday.
Tygrett turned himself in without incident at the Oak Hill State Police detachment on July 7 after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Raleigh County, according to State Police from the Beckley detachment.
He was charged with one count each of domestic battery and burglary. Bond was set at $25,000 by Raleigh County Magistrate Mary Jennings, which Tygrett successfully posted later that day.
According to Sgt. M.A. Painter of the Beckley detachment, the alleged victim — Tygrett’s former girlfriend — filed a domestic violence petition against Tygrett on July 6. After conferring with Jennings and the Raleigh County prosecutor, Painter and Sgt. G.A. Duckworth pursued an investigation.
In a criminal complaint, Duckworth and Painter asserted Tygrett drove to the woman’s Beckley residence and repeatedly rang the doorbell.
She cracked the door open, braced it with her foot and ordered Tygrett to leave. Tygrett then pushed the door open by overpowering her and entered the residence, the complaint said.
After that, he began to verbally assault the victim, Painter said. When she picked up the phone to dial 911, Tygrett allegedly grabbed the phone and threw it.
He then reportedly grabbed her by the arms and shoved her to the ground. While she was down, he placed his knee in her chest, one hand on her throat and his forearm across her face, Painter said.
— E-mail:
mhill@register-herald.com
