A Pennsylvania police officer is facing serious charges after a disturbing video emerged of him forcibly arresting his mistress in a violent altercation. 37-year-old Ronald Keith Davis has been charged with felony strangulation, among other offenses, after he was filmed restraining his girlfriend Michelle Perfanov and attempting to have her involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
The incident occurred in August, when Perfanov, who was living in Davis’ camper van, had a falling out with the cop. Instead of handling the situation like a responsible adult, Davis abused his authority as a law enforcement officer and obtained a petition to have Perfanov involuntarily committed. On August 21, Davis was caught on camera chasing after Perfanov and physically forcing her into his vehicle. He can be seen sitting on her, laying on her, and grabbing her by the legs in an attempt to restrain her.
Perfanov was then taken to a mental hospital for multiple days before doctors determined that she was not mentally unstable, despite Davis’ claims. They found that she had only threatened to harm herself to get attention from her now ex-lover. It was also revealed that Davis had texted Perfanov, saying, “You’re done. F**k around and find out. Get out of my house now.”
Davis was off-duty at the time of the incident. He had gone to the police station to obtain the involuntary commitment petition before taking matters into his own hands when his colleagues were unable to locate Perfanov. With the help of a civilian companion, he tracked her down in a state forest and attempted to forcibly remove her from the area. The disturbing video shows Davis pinning Perfanov to the ground, covered in dirt and visibly distressed, and preventing her from escaping his grasp.
After being held for five days, Perfanov was released from the hospital on August 26 and informed the authorities of how their relationship had deteriorated. She told Davis that she wanted to start over in a new city, but he became enraged at the idea. According to the legal documents, the messages exchanged between them showed Perfanov’s frustration with Davis’ controlling behavior and her desire to end the relationship, not a genuine threat to harm herself.
Davis has been charged with multiple offenses, including felony strangulation, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and assault. He is also accused of acting in violation of Section 2902(a)(1) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, which refers to “unlawful restraint.” He was remanded without bail after his arraignment on September 21.
This incident has sparked outrage and disbelief within the community, as it raises concerns about the abuse of power by law enforcement officers. Davis’ actions not only go against his duty to protect and serve, but they also show a lack of regard for the well-being and rights of his girlfriend. The video evidence and Perfanov’s testimony are crucial in holding Davis accountable for his criminal behavior and sending a message that this type of abusive conduct will not be tolerated.
