TUSCALOOSA, AL – An investigation is underway after a Tuscaloosa police captain was arrested and charged with domestic violence strangulation, leading to his suspension from duty.
Authorities said Kermit Thomas “Kip” Hart III, 57, who oversees the Criminal Investigations Division for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, found himself on the other side of the law following an incident that began late Saturday night. Officials responded just after midnight Sunday to a domestic disturbance at a woman’s residence, where she reported having been assaulted.
According to police accounts provided in court documents, the woman—identified as Hart’s girlfriend—had fled to a neighbor’s house seeking help while wearing only a shirt and underwear. She told officers she and Hart have been in a relationship since 2019 and that the incident escalated after she searched his cell phone.
The woman alleged that she suspected Hart of communicating with another woman, a suspicion reportedly rooted in past infidelity. Earlier disputes over Hart’s texting behavior—specifically, deleted messages and the use of a Google messaging app—preceded the altercation, according to her statement to police.
The woman claimed that after she accessed Hart’s phone while he was asleep, he awoke and became physically violent. She alleged that Hart placed his hands around her neck, threw her to the floor, and then put her in a headlock to prevent her from yelling for help. She further stated that when she attempted to scream, Hart covered her mouth and admonished her to be quiet.
When officers arrived, they documented visible injuries on the woman, including red marks on her neck and dried blood beneath her right nostril, which investigators believe may have resulted from her mouth and nose being covered during the struggle.
Police located Hart at approximately 3 a.m. and detained him for questioning. According to their report, Hart sustained redness and swelling on the left side of his neck and face, injuries he claimed occurred when his girlfriend hit him during the dispute. Hart denied strangling the woman but admitted to “wrapping her up” and covering her mouth in an attempt to quiet her during the altercation.
After his arrest, Hart was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a charge of domestic violence by strangulation. He was held for 24 hours under a domestic violence hold, then released on a $5,000 bond early Monday morning.
Following the incident, the Tuscaloosa Police Department placed Hart on administrative leave. Department officials stated that the investigation is active and that Hart’s status will be reviewed pending its outcome.
No further details regarding potential court proceedings or disciplinary actions have been announced at this time.