PA Trooper Asked For Overtime After Assaulting, Committing Ex: Report

DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA — A suspended Pennsylvania state trooper asked for overtime pay for an incident in which authorities said he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and involuntarily committed her to a mental hospital, according to a report.

Ronald Keith Davis, 37, of Williamstown, was charged with strangulation, unlawful restraint, assault and false imprisonment following the off-duty incident on Aug. 21, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release.

Authorities said he strangled his ex-girlfriend during the incident and used his position to commit her to a medical facility for mental health issues against her will.

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According to police records obtained by PennLive.com, Davis reported two hours of overtime for serving an involuntary commitment warrant, amounting to $286.68. Following his arrest, state police rescinded the overtime pay and deducted it from his final paycheck, the report said.

Davis, a trooper since March 2015, was based out of Troop L, which serves Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, authorities said.

Davis is accused of trying to convince other troopers that his ex-girlfriend — later identified as 37-year-old Michelle Perfanov — was suicidal. Reports said that in order to receive an involuntary mental health commitment order for Perfanov, Davis contacted Dauphin County Crisis Intervention and told them he was a trooper. He also provided his work email in order to obtain the order, reports said.

According to WHP-TV, Davis told authorities that Perfanov was acting strange and depressed. He also said she had threatened to throw herself off a cliff.

Davis then located Perfanov and a struggle ensued, reports said. According to authorities and reports, Davis tackled Perfanov and restrained her. He also put her in a wrestling-style hold. Court documents said Perfanov told him multiple times she couldn't breathe, reports said.

Perfanov was then taken to a Schuylkill County hospital for evaluation, reports said. After her release, she told investigators Davis would threaten her with statements like "I know you're not crazy, I'll paint you as crazy," and "I know the law." Investigators also determined the woman was not a threat to herself, reports said.

Davis was suspended from Pennsylvania State Police without pay, authorities said.