09/03/08 — Warrant officer suspended

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Warrant officer suspended

By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on September 3, 2008 1:45 PM

A Goldsboro warrant officer has been suspended for allegedly assaulting his wife in an incident that happened Monday, police Chief Tim Bell said today.

Arian Southerland, who has been working in the warrants division for the past few months since the promotion of another officer, has been charged with assault on a female, Bell said.

Southerland's wife was not seriously injured in the attack, Bell said.

Southerland's first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 6.

He has been suspended per state law pending the results of the court proceedings, the chief said.

Information about whether Southerland would receive pay during the suspension was not solidified this morning, Bell said.

"He's got a court date just like anybody else, a regular court date," Bell said. "I can tell you by law that he is suspended at this time, and we are doing our own internal investigation on it."

The incident, which occurred at Southerland's Cella Street home just south of U.S. 70, did not involve alcohol, according to the report.