Former Phoenix Police Department Sergeant Paul Penzone once again explained the 2003 altercation with his ex-wife, after Sheriff Joe Arpaio's campaign released an ad on the matter, which says there's no excuse for "hitting a woman."
The incident the Arpaio ad is attempting to reference was explained by our colleague Stephen Lemons months ago, so the facts are already in on this one.
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-Arpaio Challenger Paul Penzone Comes Clean About a 2003 Altercation with Ex-Wife
"For years, Paul Penzone was the face of Silent Witness," the female narrator says in Arpaio's ad. "In 2003, Paul Penzone pushed his then-wife against a door, injuring her in front of their child. He's trying to explain it away, but there's no excuse for hitting a woman. Now, the only silent witness is his ex-wife. We deserve better than that."
Penzone wasn't accused by anyone of "hitting a woman," -- except by Mike Stauffer shill DeeDee Blase, who referred to Penzone as an "alleged wife beater" -- but there are also a few things off about the ad, which we haven't been able to find online yet.
The ad declares, as fact, that Penzone pushed his wife into a door in the 2003 incident. That was actually an accusation made by Penzone's wife, after Penzone himself called police and claimed that his wife had just smacked him in the face with a hockey stick.
No charges were filed for the incident since there were just the two sides to the story, and no one was arrested.
There's no indication this happened in front of their son, either, as the police report notes that the kid was in the car, while Penzone's then-wife claimed Penzone pushed her after she went back inside his house.
Today, Penzone reiterated his claim that his wife hit him with a hockey stick. If you don't believe him, he implored the public to read the police report and make their own judgment. (You can read it for yourself here.)
"I will answer to anyone and everyone, and run from nothing," Penzone said.
Penzone knows Arpaio has the money -- and the tendency -- to runs ads such as this one, which he likened to "attempting to buy his office back."
"He is more committed to do things to keep his office than he is to do his job," Penzone added.
Meanwhile, this ad came out right after another poll came out showing Penzone within a few points of Arpaio. Arpaio's been careful to avoid acknowledging the existence of Penzone, so it might not be a stretch to think that Arpaio's getting a little scared.
