Married PA State Trooper Arrested for Falsely Committing Ex to Mental Health Facility
A married Pennsylvania state trooper has been arrested after allegedly fraudulently committing his ex-girlfriend to a mental health facility and assaulting her. The incident has sparked controversy, with the victim, Michelle Perfanov, speaking out about her ordeal.
Video footage released by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office shows Perfanov being forcefully detained by Trooper Ronald Davis, her ex-boyfriend, who aggressively tries to restrain her before other officers arrive at the scene. Davis was arrested and is now facing multiple charges, including felony strangulation, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, assault, reckless endangerment, and official oppression.
The allegations against Davis suggest that he embarked on a campaign to get Perfanov committed to a mental health facility. He allegedly contacted other state troopers and claimed that she had mental health issues, leading to her being wrongfully detained. Perfanov spent five days at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, despite not showing any signs of suicidal thoughts during that time.
The video of the incident has attracted attention, and Perfanov expressed her desire to clear her name, stating, I was not expecting to be a political football. I just want to clear my name. However, she declined to comment further on the case, as litigation is ongoing.
According to the authorities, Davis, who was off-duty at the time, traveled to a local state forest to detain Perfanov after other officers failed to locate her. While he was not acting in his official capacity as a police officer, his actions have raised serious concerns about the abuse of power.
Text messages exchanged between the former couple played a crucial role in the investigation. Although some texts mentioned suicide in a hypothetical context, investigators found that they did not provide the full context of the situation. Instead, they revealed Perfanov’s frustration with Davis and his controlling behavior.
The case raises broader issues about trust in law enforcement. Perfanov noted, Most people don’t trust the cops. And it’s funny — me dating a cop, alluding to the difficulties faced by individuals involved in relationships with police officers.
Davis, who is married and has a family, is currently in jail. The incident is a stark reminder of the need for accountability within law enforcement and highlights the importance of addressing cases of misconduct promptly and fairly.
