Groton City officer appears in court on domestic violence charge
A judge issued a protective order Tuesday that prohibits Groton City police Officer Kate E. Ellis from any form of contact with the alleged victim of a domestic violence incident in North Stonington on June 14.
Ellis, 31, of Gales Ferry appeared Tuesday in New London Superior Court with defense attorney Michael A. Blanchard for a brief hearing before Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed.
Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Shay from the Division of Criminal Justice's Rocky Hill office was the prosecutor.
Ellis has not yet entered a plea to charges of fourth-degree criminal mischief, breach of peace and third-degree assault. The case was referred Tuesday to the family relations office, which will conduct an evaluation and make a recommendation to the court. Her next court date is July 13.
A Groton City police officer since 2009, Ellis is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of her court case. The department confiscated her badge and gun following her arrest, according to acting Groton City police Chief Mike Guillot.
State police have not released a report of the incident. According to a summary, troopers were called to a residence on Jeremy Hill Road in North Stonington about 12:15 p.m. on June 14 for a "non-active disturbance."
Troopers allege that Ellis, who was off duty, inflicted a minor injury on an unidentified 41-year-old person and damaged items belonging to the person.
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