Danville police sergeant charged with assault

By Sarah Arkin

Published: October 6, 2008

A Danville police sergeant is on administrative leave after he was arrested last week and charged with assault by the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Jerry Pace Jr., a member of the Danville Police Department Investigations Division and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, was arrested on Sept. 30 and charged with assault after a deputy responded to a domestic violence call in the county, Sheriff Mike Taylor said Monday.

The sheriff’s office isn’t releasing many details, including whether the woman Pace is accused of assaulting is his girlfriend or wife, or any evidence from the case.

Taylor said only that the deputy who arrived at the house determined there was enough evi-dence to arrest Pace.

Pace was released on bond and is on administrative leave from the police department. Lt. John Henderson, spokesman for the police department, said Pace’s leave is an administration issue and refused to comment on how long the sergeant will be on leave.

Pace also was charged with assault in December 2003 after a dispute with his girlfriend and her daughter, but those charges were dropped in May 2004.