Hinds County investigator faces domestic violence charges in Ridgeland

RIDGELAND — A Hinds County investigator has been arrested and accused of assault after Ridgeland police responded to an emergency call at an apartment building Wednesday evening.

Samuel Edwin Dukes, 39, of Ridgeland was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Ridgeland Police Lt. Brian Myers said that Dukes was arrested on Wednesday, July 14, in the city.

Ridgeland police officers responded to a 9:53 p.m. Wednesday 911 call from a female who said she was a domestic violence victim at Sunchase Apartments, he said.

The victim told officers she had been strangled and identified the assailant as Dukes.

Myers said Dukes was then arrested on a charge of Domestic Violence-Aggravated Assault and was being held Thursday afternoon at the Madison County Detention Center pending an initial appearance before a Ridgeland Municipal Judge.

No bond had been set as of Thursday afternoon.

Other media outlets have reported that Dukes was an investigator for the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office. Attempts to contact the HCSO went unreturned Thursday afternoon though they have confirmed his affiliation with them to other media. Other media also reported that Dukes’ “police powers” have been suspended and that he has been reassigned to a civilian position.

The HCSO has also said that they are conducting an internal investigation and are also awaiting the outcome of the RPD criminal investigation to see if any of their policies or procedures were violated.