A Justin Bieber doll allegedly doubled as an attack weapon in a heated argument that landed a Denver police officer behind bars.
Officer Michael Nuanes Jr., 37, was arrested in connection with domestic violence and charged with misdemeanor assault, property damage, and obstructing telephone service, Denver's KMGH-TV reports.
The argument began in January, when Nuanes said his 42-year-old girlfriend threw two Barbie-sized dolls at him. One, a Justin Bieber doll, hit him in the foot and left a bruise, according to a sheriff's affidavit.
A few hours after the alleged Justin Bieber doll attack, another fight ensued, in which Officer Michael Nuanes claims his girlfriend scratched him and bit his finger.
But Nuanes' girlfriend tells a different story. Nuanes was upset she hadn't changed her Facebook relationship status, his girlfriend claimed. Nuanes grabbed her by the hair and punched her, the girlfriend told investigators.
The girlfriend's cell phone video of the incident backed up some of her claims. Nuanes made some cell phone recordings as well.
Days later as the investigation continued, Nuanes' girlfriend reported that Nuanes texted her, asking her to "take the fall" for the domestic violence incident, KMGH reports. "Nuanes said that since (the girlfriend) was a housewife, she had nothing to lose. And, if he was arrested, he would lose his job," the sheriff's affidavit says.
Nuanes was arrested that day, and was released from jail after posting $1,500 bond, according to KMGH. His girlfriend was not charged.
Nuanes' personnel records show he was accused in the savage beating of a man whom officers misidentified as a domestic violence suspect in 2003, KMGH reports. That same year, Nuanes admitted to taking photos of a prostitute's genitals after an arrest, the Denver Post reports.
Officer Michael Nuanes is now on desk duty because a restraining order in the domestic-violence case prevents him from carrying a gun, KMGH reports. It's not clear when he's set to appear in court.