County Sheriff: Wife Will Recant Domestic Assault Claim

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The wife of embattled Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ronald Bateman has recanted claims that he assaulted her in their home, the official says.

On Tuesday, Bateman, 54, issued a statement denying he attacked his wife, Elsie, and claiming their angry dispute was blown out of proportion.

Bateman was charged with a single count of second-degree assault for reportedly holding his wife down on a bed, then shoving her against a wall.

The sheriff’s statement, in part, says, “I love my wife and she loves me very much. … Let me say this, I never ever, ever, assaulted Elsie. Things were said to police during high emotions, high stress, high anger, that were just blown out of proportion and not true, and soon you will read where she has recanted everything. We are embarrassed by this, but I can tell you that we're going to get through this with counseling.”

The sheriff asked for privacy as his family works through the issue.

According to charging documents filed by Anne Arundel County Police, the couple argued Sunday night after Elsie Bateman came home from dinner. When Ronald Bateman allegedly ordered her to leave the Pasadena house, she told police she reached for his money clip. At that point the argument turned physical, the documents say, with the sheriff pushing his wife onto a bed, then reportedly throwing her against a wall, where she struck her head.

Elsie Bateman’s 14-year-old son told police he saw his stepfather holding his mother down on the bed, and the teen freed her. The boy was then ordered back to his room, while the adults argued.

Elsie Bateman told her son that her husband knocked her to the floor, and then held her there. Ronald Bateman told police that he held his wife down to retrieve the money she took, but denied hitting her or pushing her into a wall.

His weapons and credentials have been taken for safe-keeping per protocol, police said.

Bateman had been drinking before police arrived, the report said, but a blood alcohol level wasn't noted.

Under-Sheriff Rick Tabor has assumed day-to-day control of the department, although Bateman returned to work Tuesday.

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams said that because of the unique relationship between the State's Attorney's Office and the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office, he has referred the Bateman case to a special prosecutor outside of Anne Arundel County. Steve Kroll, the director of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association, will serve as special counsel in this case.

"I have chosen this route to ensure the public's trust in my office, to ensure that no one is above the law, and to ensure that both Mr. and Mrs. Bateman each are treated fairly," Adams said in a statement.

»Photo of Sheriff Ronald Bateman, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police