We Can’t Afford to Have Him Arrested”: Domestic Call Raises Hard Questions

“She said she didn’t want him arrested — because they couldn’t afford it.” That statement, deputies say, came even after visible injuries and allegations of choking during a domestic dispute. According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 911 hang-up call after dispatchers reported yelling could be heard in the background, raising concerns about a possible domestic situation. When deputies arrived, a man at the door insisted police were not needed and told them they did not have a warrant to be on the property. Deputies advised they were lawfully present due to the emergency call and the information provided by dispatch. A woman then exited the camper holding a baby. She initially said she did not know why deputies were there. Based on the behavior of both parties and the woman gathering belongings and placing them into a vehicle, deputies believed a domestic dispute had occurred and that she was attempting to leave for safety. While speaking privately with a deputy near the vehicle, the woman initially said she had been assaulted but was hesitant to provide details. A short time later, she asked to speak again and disclosed that the man had choked her. She showed deputies visible red marks on her neck and said she had difficulty breathing during the incident. She also reported a bleeding injury to her foot and said similar incidents had happened in the past. The woman told deputies she had previously tried to contact a hotline but never received a call back. Despite the injuries, she was adamant that she did not want the man taken to jail, stating they could not afford it. She declined to complete a written statement, though her verbal statements were captured on a body-worn camera. The man, identified as Lee Shepard, was taken into custody and transported to the county jail without incident. He was charged with domestic violence and strangulation. Court records show he later appeared in Lawrence County Municipal Court, was appointed a public defender, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 23. When Victims Don’t Want Prosecution Advocates say this case highlights one of the most difficult realities in domestic violence enforcement: many victims do not want their abuser arrested, even when violence is severe. Fear of financial collapse, housing instability, retaliation, and losing childcare support are among the most common reasons victims resist prosecution. In rural areas, those pressures can be even heavier. Ohio law requires arrest in many domestic violence cases — especially when there are visible injuries or allegations of strangulation — a policy designed to protect victims during the most dangerous moments. Research shows the risk of serious injury or death increases significantly after choking incidents. But critics argue mandatory arrest laws can sometimes leave victims feeling powerless, unheard, or even punished for calling for help — especially when they explicitly ask officers not to make an arrest. A Question With No Easy Answer The law is meant to save lives. But cases like this raise a painful question: 💬 When a victim is injured but begs officers not to arrest their abuser, does mandatory arrest protect them — or does it sometimes make their situation even harder?

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