Court date set for St. Paul police officer charged with domestic assault

A July 27 court hearing has been set for a St. Paul police canine officer charged with misdemeanor domestic assault.

Isaac D. Rinehart, 42, was arraigned in Ramsey County District Court Tuesday after his wife went to Maplewood City Hall about 10 p.m. Monday claiming he had beaten her.

"She had some bleeding from her nose, blood on her shirt and her face was puffy and swollen," said Maplewood Police Chief David Thomalla, who was attending a biweekly City Council meeting when the victim walked into City Hall, where the police department also is located.

Rinehart's wife, who complained of rib pain, too, was taken to St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, where she was treated and released.

Thomalla said the officer turned himself in to Maplewood police after Thomalla notified St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington. Rinehart was booked about 11:40 p.m. Monday, Thomalla said.

The alleged assault occurred at Rinehart's residence, about a half-mile from Maplewood City Hall. Thomalla said Rinehart's wife lives elsewhere.

Rinehart provided no statement to police, requesting a lawyer instead. A man answering the phone at his residence Tuesday night declined to comment.

Last fall, Rinehart was among several St. Paul K-9 cops to be featured on an Animal Planet TV series. But he has been the subject of less flattering news coverage, as well.

In 2001, Rinehart was one of three officers disciplined for not reporting the use of force in arresting an 18-year-old Illinois man. And twice during the past two years, his canine partner, Sarik, has bitten the wrong person, the most recent incident involving an off-duty attack on a 13-year-old boy in South St. Paul in March.

Thomalla said Rinehart's arrest was proof that domestic-assault suspects can "span the range of every occupation." Asked why the officer faced a misdemeanor charge, as opposed to a felony, the chief said "the injuries appeared to reach the misdemeanor level."

He added, however, that his department also has requested the victim's medical records for review, and if the injuries were more severe than initially believed, the case could be sent to the county attorney's office for consideration of felony charges.