Baltimore County officer arrested in domestic dispute

A Baltimore County police officer was arrested Tuesday night and charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend and pointing a handgun in her direction, according to authorities and court documents.

Officer Brian Eaton, a 5-year veteran assigned to the Pikesville Precinct, was charged with first and second degree assault, false imprisonment and destruction of property. Police said the alleged attack occurred Sept. 23 in the 1200 block of Halstead Road in Towson.

Police charging documents say that the victim, Shenell Wilkes, arrived at Eaton’s house to talk about her new relationship with another man, who a report identifies as another police officer.

Wilkes and Eaton have a daughter together. The report says Wilkes believed the officer had been drinking the night of the attack.

Eaton got into Wilkes car and the two argued, the report says. “Brian grabbed Shenell numerous times by the right arm, causing a large bruise to the front and back,” the report says. Police also said the officer squeezed the victim’s head into the driver’s side window.

The report says the two fought over a cell phone and continued to argue back in the officer’s house, where their 13-month-old girl was sleeping. The report says the victim took the child back outside and to her vehicle.

Police said Eaton then drew his handgun from a holster “and pointed the handgun in the direction of Shenell and stated, “Get the … away from me.” The victim got into her car and drove off.

Police said in a statement that Eaton has been suspended and his gun taken away. He has been freed on $50,000 bail.

Posted by Peter Hermann at 1:26 PM on The Baltimore Sun Crime Beat