DUPONT, Wash. — A colonel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was arrested Sunday on charges of domestic violence, the DuPont Police Department said.
Pierce County prosecutors charged Owen Ray, 47, with first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of felony harassment and reckless endangerment.
Ray formerly led 1st Special Forces Group at JBLM before becoming I Corps chief of staff in July.
Police responded around 12:23 a.m. Sunday to the 1500 block of Bittner Court for a report of a domestic assault in progress involving a firearm.
Additional officers from the Lakewood Police Department, Steilacoom Department of Public Safety and Washington State Patrol also responded due to the nature of the report, a news release said.
When they arrived, Ray refused to comply with officers to leave the home.
The victim later exited but Ray continued to not disarm or surrender, police said.
About two hours after officers originally arrived, Ray was taken into custody.
He was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail under multiple felony domestic violence charges.
An I Corps spokesman said Monday that Ray has been suspended.
A representative from JBLM provided KIRO 7 with the following statement.
“We are monitoring the allegations of domestic assault and felony harassment against COL Owen Ray. We have been in contact with local law enforcement, who have informed us that the investigation is still on-going. While the investigation continues, we will work closely with the family and the officer to provide support services including counseling, behavior health support, and legal assistance. The safety of everyone involved is the command’s priority.”
Cox Media Group
