News

Actions

Love triangle involving Suffolk police officers ends with assault charges and internal investigation

Posted at 4:17 PM, Dec 09, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-10 16:40:40-05

“She threatened to slice my throat open and kill me.”

According to court records, that’s what Ida Thompson told police happened after she confronted a Suffolk Police officer for having an affair with her husband.

Now that officer, 29-year old Tiffany Valentine, has been charged with assault and is on administrative duty at the police department.

Officer Valentine's attorney Randolph Raines says there is an audio recording of the alleged incident involved Ida and Officer Valentine that he says refutes Ida's claims.

As for the other half of the alleged affair - Ida’s husband is also a Suffolk Police officer.

Officer Nicholas Thompson was placed on administrative leave and has been charged with Assault & Battery and Brandishing a Firearm in connection with two separate incidents.

In one incident dated on September 27th, Ida told police that Officer Thompson pulled his department-issued gun, pointed it at her temple and threatened to kill her, according to a criminal complaint.

In another incident that she says happened on November 9th, Ida said he physically assaulted her.

But the charges in both instances were dropped at Ida’s request in court Tuesday morning, according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

However, that wasn't the case for Officer Valentine.

Tiffany Valentine was in court Wednesday morning. Her attorney, Randy Raines told NewsChannel 3 he thought her charges would be dropped as well, but they weren't. Ida Thompson has decided to move forward with the charges and now a Commonwealth's Attorney has been assigned to the case. Neither Thompson nor Valentine would comment on the case.

As for the Thompson's future, NewsChannel 3 has learned Ida Thompson has filed for a divorce against her husband. In the paperwork filed in Suffolk Circuit Court, Ida Thompson says Officer Thompson admitted to being in an affair with someone with the initials T.V. for the past five years. The documents also show the Thompsons have two boys, ages 8 and 9.

In an email, a spokesperson with the Suffolk Police Department says:

"Thompson was placed on administrative leave from November 30th to December 1st, according to city policy so that the city could determine if a change in employment status was necessary by the charges. The city agreed to allow Officer Thompson to take annual leave from December 2nd to December 9th.

Officer Tiffany Valentine was placed on administrative leave with pay from November 14th to November 18th, per city policy, so that the city could determine whether her employment status should change as a result of charges brought against her. Currently, she is working on administrative assignment within the Police Department".