NORFOLK, Va. — A police officer with the Norfolk Police Department was arrested for child abuse following an incident over the weekend at a grocery store.
Investigators said officers were called to the Harris Teeter on Colonial Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday night for a report of a “violent domestic” situation. Arriving officers were shown surveillance video of the incident, and determined the suspect, who was no longer in the store, was a Norfolk police officer.
Police have not released the exact details of what was seen on the video, but did say 33-year-old Officer Jonluke Beasley was arrested later that night and charged with child abuse.
A spokesperson for the Norfolk police department said Beasley has worked for the department since 2013. That spokesperson also confirmed the child involved is Beasley’s child.
Beasley has since been released on bond and is currently on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.
"As Chief of Police it is my highest duty to ensure that the Officers who are sworn to serve the residents of Norfolk are bound by strong moral and ethical codes and are choosing to live in such a way that represents our organization's values," Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot said in a news release announcing the arrest. "I want to reassure the public that any time an Officer exhibits any level of misconduct, it will be dealt with swiftly. I will only tolerate honest and reputable behavior from the men and women serving within the ranks of the Norfolk Police Department."