East Ridge police officer charged with aggravated domestic violence offense

Joseph Hawks | Courtesy: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — An East Ridge police officer has been placed on leave without pay after being charged with an aggravated domestic violence offense.

On November 13, 2025, deputies responded to the 6000 block of Dayton Boulevard after being contacted for a domestic violence report.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who told them that Joseph Hawks assaulted her.

According to an affidavit, “in an attempt to be funny,” the victim “placed Hawk’s hand on her buttocks and farted.”

This action caused Hawks to grab the victim by the hair on the back of her head, drag her to the bathroom and then he “slammed her face onto the bathroom mirror two times.”

The victims nose was “pouring blood” to the point it was “running down her throat.”

Hawks left the room and then went to his work truck in the garage.

The victim then went to the garage where Hawks was sitting in his work truck with a gun.

The victim managed to talk Hawks into coming back inside and she got in bed with him after he was asleep.

The next morning, the victim told detectives Hawks “will get in moods and ‘spiral’ and speaks of suicide.”

Hawks has been charged with aggravated domestic assault.