An Oxford firefighter accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend will stand trial in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court.
Jury selection is set for Friday, May 19 in Judge Lisa L. Asadoorian’s courtroom.
Randy Darnell, 30, is facing a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his 28-year-old girlfriend on Sunday, Feb. 12.
He pleaded not guilty.
Darnell has been a paid-on-call firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for Oxford since April 2001.
‘Right now, he’s restricted from responding on any calls that involve assaults of any nature until this thing shakes out,? said Fire Chief Jack LeRoy.
A firefighter charged with a felony would be put on ‘administrative leave,? an unpaid leave of absence, according to department policy. However, because the policy doesn’t cover misdemeanor charges, according to LeRoy, they’re left to his discretion.
In this case, LeRoy said he consulted with a representative from a domestic abuse shelter who agreed that not permitting Darnell to respond on any assault-related calls was an appropriate course of action for now.
LeRoy noted Darnell has ‘never been a problem? since joining the department and has always done a ‘more than satisfactory? job performing his duties.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s report, Darnell, along with a friend, arrived home around 3 a.m. Feb. 12 after drinking at the Hayloft Liquor Stand in downtown Mt. Clemens.
An argument between Darnell and his girlfriend over his drinking apparently sparked the alleged assault which, according to the sheriff’s report, began with him pushing her into a wall, then dragging her down the hallway by the hair and slapping her face causing a nosebleed.
The victim locked herself in a bedroom with the couple’s 5-year-old son who was sleeping. Darnell reportedly broke through the door and allegedly punched her in the head while on top of the bed.
When the son picked up a small basket and attempted to defend his mother, the sheriff’s report stated Darnell took the basket away from the boy and threw it at him, but missed. Darnell then allegedly threw the victim into the bathroom where he continued assaulting her.
The young boy later told police during an interview with the victim, ‘Daddy was hurting Mommy and I told him to stop.?
A Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) conducted by sheriff’s deputies indicated Darnell was ‘intoxicated? with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .169 percent, according to the report.
Deputies reported the victim had injuries to her forehead and the top of her head along with a ‘split lip? and dried blood around her nose.
During his interview with deputies, Darnell said his girlfriend was angry about his drinking and the two had a verbal argument earlier that day. He also said he had been drinking earlier that night and admitted to hitting some doors and walls with his fist, creating holes.
Deputies observed injuries to Darnell’s right hand.
Darnell’s friend told deputies he heard the two arguing as he entered the house and later saw the victim holding her bloody nose, according to the report.
As the friend left the house, he told deputies he observed the victim locking herself and the child in a bedroom and heard Darnell banging on the door and yelling.
Darnell was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on Feb. 13 and released from jail after posting 10 percent of a $2,500 bond.