A detention officer with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, one who was already awaiting trial for a felony domestic violence charge, is now facing a new domestic violence charge after a woman claimed he physically assaulted her and ripped a necklace from her neck.
Patrick Wayne O’Brien, who remains employed as a Guilford County Sheriff’s Office detention officer, was charged in early August with felony assault inflicting serious injury by strangulation as well as with misdemeanor domestic violence.
He was in a relationship with the woman at that time, according to court documents.
In the arrest warrant in that case, it was alleged that he picked the woman up by the neck to the point where she couldn’t breathe, which resulted in strangulation marks on her neck. The warrant also alleged that O’Brien threw the woman against a wall.
The new charges, which originated from an incident on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, are a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence and a charge of injury to personal property.
The same woman who filed charges in August has now alleged that O’Brien, who is 52 years old, headbutted her, ripped a necklace from around her neck and threw it at her.
The second count, injury to personal property, results from the damage to the diamond necklace, which court records note has a value “in excess of $200.”
The trial for the first case is scheduled for next month.
In August, after the first incident, O’Brien was arrested in Greensboro and released on a written promise to appear.
O’Brien was still working at the jail this week after the second round of charges was filed.
After the August incident, the Sheriff’s Office stated that O’Brien would still be employed “pending an investigation.”
The new charges come during Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October – and, ironically, the Sheriff’s Office’s most recent posting on its Facebook page is one that stresses the seriousness of domestic violence.
“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” the Facebook post states, with a graphic of a pink ribbon as the background. “During this time, we highlight the ongoing and widespread social and public health crisis of domestic violence, affecting individuals across all classes, races, ethnicities, and sexualities. This awareness month provides us with an opportunity to start a conversation and raise awareness regarding the impact of domestic violence. You are not alone and there are resources to help.”
The post also notes that one in three women and one in four men are victims of domestic violence from an intimate partner in their lifetimes.
This story prompts several questions. What drives a respected, long-time employee to be involved in such incidents? The threat of termination by Sheriff Rogers must create immense stress for employees. How many have lost their jobs? Where is the Family Justice Center? Do they fear speaking out will lead to funding cuts by Guilford County Government and Skip Austin Wood. Changes in leadership need to be made.
You really spun the heck outta that narrative bud. Regardless of what stress anyone is having, that doesn’t excuse or give you a pass to beat on your wife/girlfriend.
A lot of violent sociopaths are drawn to law enforcement because it legitimizes their urges, and immunizes them.
When you have a clown running the show, you have to expect nothing more than a complete circus. At the very least, the detention officer should be suspended pending the court outcome. Most other agencies would have terminated his employment when he was charged with the felony charge. There is no place in law enforcement for this type of employee behavior.
NOW, TELL ME EXACTLY WHY DOES HE CONTINUE TO HAVE HIS JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT? THUS IS THE DEFINITUON OF SOVEREIGN CITIZEN. ABOVE THE LAW.
NOW, TELL ME EXACTLY WHY DOES HE CONTINUE TO HAVE HIS JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT? THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF SOVEREIGN CITIZEN. ABOVE THE LAW.
He’s fast tracking to be the next Sheriff of Guilford County
Here we go again. Another blunder on Sheriff Danny Rogers watch. You suspend the employee until the investigation is complete. You do not need a “Hot head” who now has been charged twice working, if anything you direct him to Anger Management classes. He needs a “Mental Health Vacation” as maybe the stress of the job, working shorthanded as the Sheriff is quoted, and with mandatory overtime has caused stress at home. Danny Rogers 120+ vacancies (nobody wants to work for him) has led to these continuous problems. ie.. the 2 “improper releases” or escapes, however you want to classify them. Does everyone know his recently appointed Chief Deputy has put in his retirement papers, the Administrative Captain just retired and many more are leaving as soon as they can find another job or have their time in. Seems like things continue to go downhill and not getting any better. They are losing what experience and leadership they have. Sheriff, maybe recruit some people at the Cigar and Whiskey bar while you are in uniform and driving the County vehicle.
Wow, does this surprise anyone? Another blunder on Sheriff Danny Rogers watch. You suspend the employee until the investigation is complete. You do not need a “Hot head” who now has been charged twice working, if anything you direct him to Anger Management classes. He needs a “Mental Health Vacation” as maybe the stress of the job, working shorthanded as the Sheriff is quoted, and with mandatory overtime has caused stress at home. Danny Rogers 120+ vacancies (nobody wants to work for him) has led to these continuous problems. ie.. the 2 “improper releases” or escapes, however you want to classify them. Does everyone know his recently appointed Chief Deputy has put in his retirement papers, the Administrative Captain just retired and many more are leaving as soon as they can find another job or have their time in. Seems like things continue to go downhill and not getting any better. They are losing what experience and leadership they have. Sheriff, maybe recruit some people at the Cigar and Whiskey bar while you are in uniform and driving the County vehicle.
Why was he still employed with the sheriff’s department? I really shouldn’t be surprised.
This is not surprising. The sheriff himself has multiple charges for domestic violence which were dismissed because the victims not showing up in court out of fear I was told. While this sheriff may not do anything, I have confidence if they reported it to Training and Standards Commission as required, the Training and Standards Commission will. The commission, which I served for on many years looks at this type of behavior as being contrary to good law enforcement as they should. While they can’t fire the officer, they can take his certification no matter what the sheriff or the courts do. Thanks Scott for reporting, this type of person has no business in law enforcement.
We miss your leadership at the Sheriff’s office. It’s terrible over there now. Nobody knows the conditions the jail and staffing is in now. It’s dangerously low. One officer having to cover 2 or 3 pods by themselves. Many officers out on FMLA, many quitting and other detention officers getting to move over to Otto Zenke especially if they’re friends of the sheriff (goes to his church).
There is one officer that was hired to work in the jail at 74 years old. We knew he wouldn’t be able to do the job because of his age. After working 2 weeks he was out as LOA. After a few weeks of him being out, he’s now working at the Sheriff’s office. That’s another detention officer that has been taken from the already DANGEROUSLY low shift to work over at the Sheriff’s office. Funny thing is he keeps the detention officer title so it looks like we have plenty of detention officers at the jail on paper when in reality a lot of them are working at the Sheriff’s office doing who knows what.
Whatsa matta!?? Danny Cowboy wannabe can’t control his own personally chosen cadre of DEI hires within his own department?
Then how can expect the highfallutin DEI hire himself expect to lower the rampant crime that he claims does not exist throughout Guilford County?
As a concerned citizen, just askin’
O’Brien is Caucasian (white)
Really Susan, just because we are Rhino readers doesn’t mean we are so uneducated that we don’t know what Caucasian means
Where is photo or description of O’Brian? Our legal system at work.
And you still think this.officer is.safe.to be out watching..people.to keep.them.safe!!! Can we talk about. Retraining? Or sending him into jail for.being such a criminal. Think.it.over PLEASE I worry about. People he gets close.to, with in his.reach!!!.
Why is this even a news story?
So does getting suspended from one’s job suddenly make you stop beating women? The problem in Guilford County is the weak judicial system. Would this even be a news story if this person was a journalist or employed elsewhere? No it wouldn’t. The Rhino used to print worthy reporting. Now it’s not even on the level of the Enquirer. Hey Rhino if you’re not going to print worthy stories at least make it entertaining with UFO or Bigfoot sightings. How about some serous reporting on what a disaster Kamala Harris is and how she isn’t intelligent enough to run a lemonade stand and certainly can’t run this country?
Scientists have now discovered the source of global warming. It’s all that hot air still blowing from BJ Barnes.
Really Susan, just because we are Rhino readers doesn’t mean we are so uneducated that we don’t know what Caucasian means
Sheriff Danny Rogers and his team arean embarassament to Guilford County. Just like Mayor Nancy Vaughn and her team are an embarassament to the City of Greensboro. They are all just about useless.
We need BJ Barnes back for Sheriff
And Zack Matheny for Mayor
JMO
Is there a ‘How to Get Away with Anything’ handbook you’re following? Catch felony charges, keep your job, catch a another domestic assault charge, and then party at A&T homecoming in uniform a week later. You’re either the luckiest person alive or have some serious connections. “Yes he working homecoming”.
They are being paid $50 dollars an hour to work homecoming
He must have connections. He worked Homecoming so he could watch the Sheriff dance in the Streets with his Cowboy hat. Very Professional. He is on his 2nd term, can’t keep the Department fully staffed (120 vacancies). Can’t keep inmates locked up. Two “improper releases” recently. Deputies charged with DWI and Felony assault. What next. Time for him to give it up before more bad things happen. If he decides to run again Guilford County voters will take notice. He is the Joe Biden of Guilford County. Maybe Skip needs to replace him with someone else that is not qualified or has experience.
Of course he has connections. He worked Homecoming so he could watch the Sheriff dance in the Streets with his Cowboy hat. Very Professional. He is on his 2nd term, can’t keep the Department fully staffed (120 vacancies). Can’t keep inmates locked up. Two “improper releases” recently. Deputies charged with DWI and Felony assault. What next. Time for him to give it up before more bad things happen. If he decides to run again Guilford County voters will take notice. He is the Joe Biden of Guilford County. Maybe Skip needs to replace him with someone else that is not qualified or has experience.
Rhino-times, thanks for reporting on the 2 nd charge great job. But there is more serious issues occurring in Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. I retired with 34 years employed there , and I work for, Sheriff Gibson, Sheriff Proffit, Sticky Burch and Sheriff B. J Barnes who I retired under. All four Sheriff’s in proved the Sheriff’s Office in some way leading the Sheriff’s office on a upward path of more training, professionalism, state of the art equipment and electronics to more quickly access pertinent information. For field operations Deputy’s who patrol the unincorporated part of the county and the contracts with small cities. Plus criminal investigation division detective’s can work faster with instant access to information, that keeps a detective from putting leather on the pavement to find the information, saving time , gas and wear and tear on the vehicles. My last 20 years I worked as a detective. I have contacts still in the sheriff’s office who are loyal to the Guilford County citizens. Overall what is occurring is similar to the issues in the agency across the street several years ago. If you notice the policy and procedures of the Sheriffs office under BJ Barnes has been taken off line, so no access to Sheriff Roger’s policy and procedures that shows how he leads the sheriff’s office available .The black patrol cars marked is so light it’s very hard to know if they are patrolling in the county. I am not talking about the ghost cars that is a separate issue. The marked cars do not have the county fleet unique number displayed on the left , right fender near the driver door and passenger door and the rear trunk to the right of the the word sheriff. That is very unprofessional and completely not transparent. If a citizen see’s a deputy operating his patrol car in a manner that should be reported to sheriff Rogers for him to follow up on concerning the complaint . But if the citizens are not directly behind the patrol car and have some way to safety record the vehicle tag. The citizens have no way to identify the car to report the problem. That is a good situation for Sheriff Roger’s is it not. Patrol cars should be highly marked like GPD. That is a standard all across this nation where many agencies who have black cars with white doors, as referred to as black & white’s. But that would be transparent and easy for criminals and citizens to see. No yearly status report for the prior year, being posted on the web so tax payers in Guilford can see what was accomplished, and if crime went up or down and maybe the same. The sheriffs office uniform is all mixed up in just one division and the rest of the Sheriff’s Office. I have no idea what is the primary uniform in sheriff’s office like it was with past Sheriff’s. To be able to determine what agency the deputies are from when I see one. The NC Troopers is easy to spot from a half mile away and Greensboro PD also. This issue is Sheriff Roger’s poor leadership in plan view. But I hope you Rhino times will follow up and start using the freedom of information act to investigate. Thanks for your time. Votes count and the low information voters did that by voting for Roger’s with no experience against a retired deputy who has 30 years and most as a captain, who worked supervising multiple divisions and college education. The problems in the Sheriff’s office will take years to fix because some of problems are employed by Roger’s who where not the most qualified to hire and later to be promoted.