OCSO Investigator Facing Felony Charge After Domestic Dispute

An investigator with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is now facing a felony charge for a fight he had with his girlfriend this summer. He's accused of choking her, dragging her across a room, and tackling her when she tried to escape.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office confirms he resigned Friday afternoon.

According to court papers, Jason Ledford, 40, admitted to being drunk and getting into an argument with his girlfriend to officers at the scene. But he told them that he did not know how the situation escalated so quickly.

The incident happened back on July 26, at the couple's Northwest Oklahoma City apartment.

According to the protective order, his girlfriend claimed the two had gone drinking the night before, and that she had felt ill. She said she was in the bathroom around 3 iwhen he attacked her.

She wrote: "He dragged me into the bedroom - restraining my arms and choking the front of my neck. I kicked him off of me and punched him in the nose out of defense and quickly ran to the door."

But the girlfriend said Ledford prevented her from leaving.

She wrote: he "forcefully clamped my mouth shut, slammed my head on the door.  I tried to get away by running to the bedroom while screaming for my life."

She said at one point Ledford put her in a choke hold, and she lost consciousness for close to ten minutes. She claimed he then dragged her by her hair through the living room and smashed her face into the floor.

She claimed she finally managed to lock herself in the couple's spare bedroom, escaped through the window, and ran to the road.

Court papers state Ledford told officers he didn't dispute anything his girlfriend said, but claimed he didn't remember any of it.

The protective order was dismissed last month, but the DA's office went forward with charges. Ledford is currently on leave without pay from the sheriff's office. His CLEET certification has also been suspended.

News 9 talked with Ledford’s attorney, Michael Johnson, Friday afternoon. Johnson said his client is currently out-of-state on vacation and will be surrendered upon his return.

Johnson also said there are two sides to every story and looks forward to Ledford getting his day in court to present his side.