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D.C. police officer arrested, charged with assault at store

October 9, 2015 at 9:57 a.m. EDT
A D.C. police officer is facing charges after authorities say he got into a fight with an employee at a cell phone store in Northeast. (Video: WUSA9)

A D.C. police officer is facing an assault charge after authorities say he fought an employee of a cell phone store whom he accused of making obscene remarks to his girlfriend, who also worked in the shop, according to an arrest affidavit filed in court.

The officer, who was off-duty at the time, was identified as Ulysses Vincent Delaney, 43, who is assigned to the First District. He was charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and was released pending a court hearing Nov. 12.

A District police spokeswoman said Delaney, a 15-year veteran, was put on administrative leave. The store worker, Curlee Walker, 20, was also arrested and charged with making threats. He also has a court hearing Nov. 12.

The incident occurred Wednesday about 6:50 p.m. at a store in the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue NE. The affidavit says two uniformed police officers on bike patrol saw two men fighting on the sidewalk in front of the store.

Delaney told police that his girlfriend had called him to report that a co-worker made obscene and threatening remarks to her. The affidavit says Delaney told police that he confronted Walker, who threatened to get a gun. “I’m gonna shoot your [expletive]. I don’t care if you’re a cop,” Delaney quoted him as saying.

According to the affidavit, Delaney said he began fighting Walker in order to stop him from leaving the store and getting a weapon. Walker told police that Delaney was the aggressor and that he punched him in the mouth. Walker said he ran out of the store for his own safety.

Police said in the affidavit that they could not determine who started the fight.