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Clarksdale town marshal faces assault chargeJan 10, 2013 (St. Joseph News-Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A DeKalb County community's only local law enforcement official is behind bars following an alleged domestic disturbance over the holiday season. Clarksdale, Mo., town marshal Cory McDonald, 32, faces misdemeanor charges of third-degree domestic assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Mr. McDonald was placed in the Daviess/DeKalb County Regional Jail in Pattonsburg on a $10,000 cash bond. Mr. McDonald previously worked as a deputy for the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department. The alleged incident occurred at 9:29 a.m. Dec. 26 when Mr. McDonald picked up his two daughters, ages 3 and 6, from his mother-in-law's residence in Clarksdale. A probable cause statement from Sgt. Tyson B. Gardner of the Missouri State Highway Patrol described what allegedly took place. With both girls in his vehicle, Mr. McDonald allegedly accelerated away from the house after a verbal exchange with his wife as she tried to prevent him from leaving with the children, causing Ms. McDonald to fall into the back seat. Mr. McDonald then allegedly grabbed Ms. McDonald by the arm and forced her head into the top of the dashboard. Both Mr. and Ms. McDonald said he tried to grab her cellular phone while driving. They also both stated that their 6-year-old daughter, while unrestrained in a booster seat, placed her hands over Mr. McDonald's eyes as he drove. Mr. Gardner's statement said he believed Mr. McDonald posed a threat to Ms. McDonald because of comments during an interview concerning the potential to take the life of his wife and himself. Ms. McDonald has filed an ex parte order against Mr. McDonald. "Furthermore, Mr. McDonald caused substantial risk to his children's safety by operating a motor vehicle while actively engaged in a domestic disturbance and with his view obscured by his daughter's hands," Mr. Gardner wrote. Mr. McDonald will appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the DeKalb County Courthouse in Maysville, Mo. The Clarksdale town marshal is a position with a salary of $2,700 per year as of the 2010-11 fiscal year, according to a report from the Missouri State Auditor's office. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department continues to provide law enforcement for the community while Mr. McDonald faces charges. Clinton Thomas can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPThomas. ___ (c)2013 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) Visit the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) at www.newspressnow.com/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Services |