Off-duty police officer arrested after threatening family members with a gun during fight

HURRICANE, Utah (ABC4) — A police officer with the Springdale Police Department is facing several charges after a domestic violence fight that occurred while he was off-duty, where he threatened family members.

Britt Tony Ballard, 40, has been charged with misdemeanor threat/use of a dangerous weapon in a fight, propelling a bodily substance contacting a face, threat of violence, and six counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

According to an arrest statement filed by Hurricane City Police, officers responded to a home in Hurricane on a report of a family fight just after 11 p.m. The victim told police that she had been having a nice evening with Ballard when he had spat a chewed fingernail at her face. This led to a verbal fight between the two.

Other family members reported witnessing Ballard bring out a handgun during the argument. Documents say he “was pointing a holstered handgun at the ceiling” and threatening to shoot anyone if they “came at him.”

One of the family members told Ballard to leave, which led Ballard to yell at him and push him to the door by his shoulders, Ballard told police at the scene. The family member struck Ballard in the face, leading to him falling, and other family members piling on top of him and hitting him to prevent him from getting up.

According to police, all of the adults were intoxicated during the fight, and six minors were present in the home. The arresting officer determined that Ballard was the primary aggressor and arrested him.

Lt. Ray with the Springdale Police Department confirmed that Ballard has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.