Family Court Commissioner Theresa Ratliff Arrested for Assaulting Husband

A Pinal County woman was arrested last week on charges that she assaulted her husband as the two were driving near Casa Grande -- which wouldn't be much of a news story if the woman arrested weren't Pinal County Family Court Commissioner Theresa Ratliff.Ratliff and her husband were driving to...

By James King

May 3, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

A Pinal County woman was arrested last week on charges that she assaulted her husband as the two were driving near Casa Grande -- which wouldn't be much of a news story if the woman arrested weren't Pinal County Family Court Commissioner Theresa Ratliff.

Ratliff and her husband were driving to their Casa Grande home from Phoenix on Wednesday when they started arguing about "marital issues."

According to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, Ratliff was screaming at her husband and "wouldn't let him get in a word edgewise."

Ratliff eventually hit her husband in the arm and the chest before he asked her to let him out of the car. He later told police that aside from getting smacked around by his wife, her driving was erratic and he wanted to escape the vehicle. But Ratliff refused to drop him off so her husband called the cops.

Police found the couple at their house. Both had "symptoms of recent alcohol consumption," and Ratliff told the cops about the argument. She said, in the middle of the fight, she "inadvertently" hit her husband. She was arrested.

And now Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's daily self-inflicted pat on the back:

"Government employees and officials are treated in the exact same manner as any citizens when they have allegedly committed crimes. Domestic violence is a Crime which affects people of every race, religion, sex, job position and financial status. Domestic violence destroys any family or relationship it touches, unless it is recognized, treated and stopped," Babeu says.

Ratliff was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on one count of domestic violence assault, and one count of disorderly conduct.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.