SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Richard Lewis, a former Springfield police sergeant, has been charged with domestic violence following a disturbing incident at his home last week, according to court documents filed in Lane County Circuit Court.
Lewis, who is not to be confused with the former Springfield police chief of the same name, pleaded not guilty to charges of menacing and felony strangulation. The charges stem from an altercation with his wife on Wednesday, reportedly over a disagreement about a television show.
According to court records, Lewis’s wife called 9-1-1 after Lewis, who had been drinking alcohol, broke down her bedroom door and brandished a knife while yelling at her to leave the locked bathroom. Deputies who responded to the scene said Lewis also retrieved a firearm during the incident. The victim described the behavior as part of a troubling pattern that had escalated significantly since Lewis retired from the police force in 2020 after more than 3,400 hours of police training, including de-escalation techniques.
Lewis denied assaulting his wife, telling deputies that his behavior was “a bit theatric” and that he uses playing with a knife as a way to relieve anxiety.
The day after the incident, the victim informed investigators that Lewis had taken intimate photos of her while she was sleeping and shared them without her consent. Following this disclosure, deputies obtained a search warrant for Lewis’s phone.
Lewis is scheduled to appear in court again on June 26.
