Glenwood Springs Police Department Officer Sean Tatro was arrested by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office on a series of charges Thursday, including felony menacing, sexual assault, and use of a stun gun in the commission of a crime. The arrest followed a report by the Silt Police Department regarding a domestic violence incident that took place on Tuesday.

Tatro was serving as a school resource officer in Glenwood Springs at the time of the incidents, but is “no longer on active duty and has been placed on administrative leave,” a city news release states.

The initial observation by a Silt Police lieutenant depicted Tatro as driving recklessly around a young woman, later identified as his romantic partner, in a manner described as intimidating and aggressive. This incident triggered further investigation, revealing a pattern of alleged abuse and misconduct. Tatro, who took a position with the Glenwood Springs Police Department in March of 2022 and was assigned as the school resource officer in Glenwood Springs, has since been placed on administrative leave following his arrest.

According to the affidavit, the relationship between Tatro and the victim involved numerous incidents of physical and sexual abuse. The affidavit indicates that Tatro supplied the victim, who is under 21 years of age, with alcohol and marijuana and engaged in violent behavior, including choking and threatening the victim during arguments. In one incident, Tatro is accused of shocking the victim with a stun gun during a confrontation, causing her to fall and injure her leg.

The victim detailed multiple instances of abuse spanning several months, including threats to her life. According to the affidavit, the victim recounts moments where Tatro became physically aggressive, such as slapping the victim across the face, shoving the victim to the ground, and other acts of violence that left the victim bruised and frightened for her safety. The victim also described in the affidavit encounters where Tatro’s actions included driving dangerously close to her in his vehicle, heightening her fear of being physically harmed.

Tatro and the victim met in October at a high school event, and their relationship evolved into encounters primarily in vehicle parking lots. The victim expressed that these meetings often involved alcohol and escalated to physical intimacy, which over time became increasingly coercive and abusive, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also mentions that Tatro took advantage of his position as a police officer, intimidating her with his knowledge of law enforcement tactics and access to weapons. According to a statement, Tatro told the victim to “not report him because he has his way of passing drug tests. Sean also told her that no one would believe her if she reported any abuse or marijuana use that occurred because Sean was a cop.”

Tatro is charged with felony menacing, felony sexual assault, felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor (18-21), felony use of a stun gun in the commission of a crime, felony second degree assault, misdemeanor harassment, misdemeanor third degree assault and misdemeanor reckless endangerment, according to the affidavit.

“If the charges are proven to be true, the administrative consequences from the city and the police department will be swift and deliberate,” Glenwood Police Chief Joseph Deras said in the release. “These allegations are absolutely contrary to our culture and expectations and run counter to everything we stand for. Such behavior has no place in the department and our community.”