WSP trooper arrested in assaults on wife

MONROE, Wash. — A Washington State Patrol trooper is in jail after his wife told police she was a victim of a pattern of physical abuse that included choking, striking and having a gun pointed at her.

The woman’s husband, Trooper Jeffrey Muren, is a 37-year-old, eight-year veteran of the WSP from Monroe.

According to probable cause documents, Muren’s wife called Monroe police on Sunday, saying that her husband had assaulted her and said that about a month ago, Muren had been drinking when the couple got into an argument.

Documents said Muren took out a loaded handgun, pointed at her and told her to look at the gun so she could see the bullet coming at her.

She said that Muren told her he knew how to kill and would do it in a heartbeat, police documents said, and that he had abused her by hitting her in the head, back or shoulders.

Documents said the woman later came to the Monroe Police Department and gave a recorded statement about a pattern of physical abuse by Muren that included incidents in which Muren grabbed her throat and squeezed it to the point that she had difficulty breathing while asking her if she knew he could kill her.

The woman told police that Muren intentionally struck her in the head where her hair is so as not to leave marks.

Muren was arrested on Monday.

During an interview with the trooper, he recalled many specific details surrounding the incidents in which his wife said he was violent, but said he did not recall the actual acts of violence, such as using his forearm to cut off air to her throat, striking her as to not leave marks and other physical abuse, documents said.

Muren was booked into the Snohomish County Jail and is on paid administrative leaving pending outcome of a possible criminal case and internal review.

KIRO