UPDATE: Reynolds Police Officer arrested for assaulting his estranged wife

Christopher Matthew Rachalla was arrested and charged with simple battery family violence, making terroristic threats, criminal trespassing, criminal damage to property, and violation of oath.

Taylor County Sheriff, Jeff Watson says the incident happened Tuesday around 10:45 p.m., when Rachalla went over to a house, on Dixie Street in Butler, Georgia and confronted in his estranged wife and her male friend, who owned the home.

Rachalla drove his patrol car to the Dixie Street home and was wearing his uniform at the time of the incident. After the incident, he drove to Reynolds Police Chief, Lonnie Holder’s home.

Chief Holder says Rachalla told him, the officer went to the house and asked that his wife to come to the door.

The two begin to argue, and as she was driving away Rachalla told the chief, he threw a flashlight at her car, while she sped down the street.

The police chief, said Holder to him, that he pushed the man, who owned the home and that is when Rachalla showed up at the chief’s house.

“Chris says he never touched her, but he did have an altercation with her,” said Holder.

But, Holder tells a different story, and says Rachalla’s wife followed the officer to the chief’s house.

“I received a call from Asst. Police Chief, Matt Woodard, he said he received a call from the sheriff’s office that Chris allegedly hit the male and put his hands around his wife’s neck,” said Holder.

Holder said he told Rachalla sheriff’s deputies were searching for him on a domestic violence arrest warrant.

“At that time, I asked Chris to give me his gun and badge and to turn himself into the sheriff’s department,” added Holder. ” I called the sheriff and asked if he wanted me to bring Chris to jail or if he was going to send a deputy to pick him up.”

Holder took Rachalla to the Taylor County jail and waited for GBI agents to arrive.

“I went into the jail and told Chris about the GBI charges, and terminated him,” said Holder.

Holder says he has been Reynolds Police Chief for more than seven years, and this was the first time he has ever had to fire an officer because of domestic violence.