Alabama Police Captain Charged With Strangling Girlfriend After She Looked Through His Phone
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA — A Tuscaloosa police captain is facing criminal charges and administrative leave after allegedly strangling his girlfriend during a late-night domestic dispute that began when she looked through his phone.
Kermit Thomas “Kip” Hart III, 57, a captain in the Criminal Investigations Division of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, was arrested early Sunday and charged with domestic violence by strangulation. He spent 24 hours in jail before posting $5,000 bond and being released, officials confirmed.
Dispute Began After Girlfriend Checked His Phone
According to court documents obtained by AL.com, police responded shortly after midnight to the home of the victim, who fled to a neighbor’s house wearing only a shirt and underwear. She told officers she had been in a relationship with Hart since 2019 and believed he was texting another woman.
“The woman stated she went through his phone while he was asleep and found messages with another woman,” investigators wrote in the report.
The victim said Hart had been unfaithful in the past, and although they tried to move forward, she recently noticed suspicious behavior — including Hart allegedly deleting messages and using a Google texting app to hide conversations.
Alleged Assault and Strangulation
When Hart woke up and discovered his girlfriend with his phone, he allegedly attacked her, throwing her to the floor and putting his hands around her neck.
“He placed her in a headlock, covering her mouth and nose, and told her to ‘shut the f— up,’” the woman told police.
Officers observed red marks on her neck and dried blood under her right nostril, consistent with being restrained and suffocated.
Police said the victim’s account was corroborated by visible injuries, including neck bruising and facial redness.
Captain Denies Strangling, Admits ‘Wrapping Her Up’
When officers located Hart around 3 a.m., he told investigators that he woke up to the woman hitting him and accusing him of cheating. Hart denied strangling her but admitted to “wrapping her up” and covering her mouth with his hands to stop her from screaming.
Officers noted that Hart also had redness and swelling on the left side of his neck and face.
Despite his claims of self-defense, police determined there was probable cause to arrest him on domestic violence strangulation charges.
Placed on Administrative Leave
The Tuscaloosa Police Department confirmed Hart’s arrest and said he has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
“This is a serious allegation, and the department is treating it with the utmost gravity,” a spokesperson said.
Hart spent 24 hours in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a domestic violence hold before being released Monday morning.
The department declined further comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings and internal reviews.
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