New Details Emerge In Case Of TPD Investigator Charged With Felony Domestic Violence

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Newly filed court documents provide additional details about the felony domestic violence arrest of Tuscaloosa Police investigator Kip Hart over the weekend.

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As Patch previously reported, Captain Hart — who is the commander of TPD's Criminal Investigation Division, which investigates domestic violence cases — was arrested early Sunday morning on the charge and has since been placed on administrative leave.

According to a deposition obtained by Patch, Hart is accused of assaulting his girlfriend during an argument at a residence on Easton Drive in Tuscaloosa early Sunday morning.

A Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy said he and other deputies responded to the scene around 1:20 a.m. after Tuscaloosa police officers first arrived and found the victim.

Officers reported redness on the victim's neck and said she appeared shaken but said there was no bruising visible.

The victim told deputies she and Hart have been in a relationship since 2019 and said Hart, who is still married to another woman, became angry after she confronted him over alleged communication with a woman.

She also told police Hart had a previous affair and that it hadn't been an issue until roughly three weeks ago when the matter resurfaced after she noticed him deleting messages.

She then told investigators that she was able to see in Hart's phone that he was messaging a woman through a Google text app.

According to the deposition, the woman said Hart grabbed her by the throat and chest, threw her to the floor, choked her from behind using his arm, and put his hand over her mouth and nose while telling her to “shut the f--- up.”

She said she struggled to breathe and screamed for help, but did not lose consciousness.

The responding deputy who took the report noted dried blood beneath one of her nostrils and reported that she said her breathing was obstructed during the altercation.

At approximately 3:10 a.m., Tuscaloosa Police notified deputies that Hart was in custody at TPD headquarters.

When interviewed by investigators, Hart claimed he was asleep when his girlfriend struck him and accused him of having contact with another woman.

Hart reportedly told police she hit him again and screamed for him to leave, prompting him to gather his belongings and leave the scene.

Deputies noted a bruise on the left side of Hart’s face and Hart admitted to putting his hands over the victim's mouth but denied choking her.

An arrest warrant was issued based on probable cause and Hart was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail early Sunday morning on a charge of domestic violence strangulation — a Class B felony.

His bond was set at $5,000 and he was placed on a 24-hour domestic violence hold.

Hart is represented by Turner Law Group of Tuscaloosa.

Court records show no prior criminal history for Hart.

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