GOP Leaders Call for Anne Arundel Sheriff Bateman to Resign

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Several Anne Arundel County leaders are urging embattled Sheriff Ronald Bateman to resign in the wake of 911 calls released from the night he reportedly assaulted his wife.

But the defiant sheriff rejected the plea from County Executive Steve Schuh and others on Wednesday, and added that he will run for re-election.

According to charging documents filed by Anne Arundel County Police, the couple argued April 10 and the sheriff allegedly pushed Elsie Bateman onto a bed, then reportedly threw her against a wall, where she struck her head.

The sheriff’s wife told her 14-year-old son that her husband knocked her to the floor, and then held her there.

Ronald Bateman, 54, 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. He denied hitting his wife or pushing her into a wall.

“The sheriff is drunk and he just punched me in the eye," Elsie Bateman told a 911 operator, although the dispatcher didn’t understand her at the time.

»Listen to portions of the Bateman 911 call (audio starts at 2:03 mark)

As he asked if there are weapons in the house, she replied yes, “He’s the sheriff, he’s got guns everywhere.”

While the audio is difficult to hear at times, Elsie Bateman can clearly be heard telling her husband, “Don’t come near me.”

Much of the back and forth between the couple is hard to make out, but then the dispatcher asks Elsie Bateman if she feels safe in the house while waiting on police to arrive. She says she’ll be outside.

The sheriff told the newspaper Wednesday, "I'm running for re-election in 2018."

»SEE ALSO:

• County Sheriff: Wife Will Recant Domestic Assault Claim
• County Sheriff Ronald Bateman Charged in Domestic Assault

Schuh, Sen. Ed Reilly, and Republican Central Committee Chairman Nathan Volke released a statement that called the court documents and 911 recording in the Bateman case troubling and unsettling.

"Violence against women is a serious issue in our state and in our county,” the statement said. “While everyone should be afforded their day in court, we hold our elected officials, especially ones in law enforcement roles, to a higher standard. This criminal case threatens the public trust in the Office of Anne Arundel County Sheriff, and compromises Mr. Bateman’s ability to administer the Sheriff’s Office. For these reasons, we believe it is in the best interests of our citizens that Sheriff Bateman resign his office.”

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

As an elected official, Bateman cannot be forced out of office by the County Council.

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams has asked Steve Kroll, the director of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association, to prosecute the case.

Last week, the sheriff said his wife will recant her allegations.

The sheriff’s statement, in part, said, “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.”

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