TABB, Va. (WAVY) — A deputy sheriff in York County is no longer on the job after he was charged with the assault of a group of people who were setting off fireworks, the sheriff’s office said.
Robert Murray, 62, submitted his resignation Thursday from his “work-as-required” position, where he was assigned at the York-Poquoson Courthouse, according to Shelly Ward, a spokesperson for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
Around 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, Murray went into the backyard of a home in the 300 block of Yorktown Road in the Tabb area and got into a physical altercation with three people, the sheriff’s office said.
Murray was not on duty, but a person who would only wish to be identified as Kevin, who witnessed the entire incident, said Murray did have a gun in a holster on his waist and badge visible.
“There was a lot of people in the backyard, and it was loud and fireworks were going off,” Kevin said. “I think it was keeping him up.”
Murray walked into the backyard and grabbed a person and began yelling at them, according to Kevin.
“The property owner came over,” Kevin said. “He grabbed him by the neck.”
The sheriff’s office said several witnesses and the victims were interviewed, and Murray was later charged with three counts of simple assault, all of which are misdemeanors.
Murray had a long history with the sheriff’s office. He was full time until 2019, according to Ward.
Murray told a 10 On Your Side reporter he would be making no statements until speaking with an attorney.
Devon Manfred, who confirmed to a reporter the party was at his house, also said he would not be commenting until speaking with an attorney.
Kevin said the party was on the loud side for the late hour.
“But there were plenty of better ways of handling it than he handled it,” Kevin said.
While on-duty deputies did respond to the scene, no charges for fireworks, which are illegal in Virginia, were issued.
“Because no fireworks were going off when deputies arrived,” Ward said.
