LEBANON — A highly regarded Warren County child abuse detective was asked to resign after he was investigated in an off-duty scuffle with his adult son during a card game.

        Gust “Rusty” Teague, who works for the children's services agency and the sheriff's office, leaves his job today after tendering his resignation earlier this week.

        Mr. Teague, 54, was not charged in the domestic assault, which occurred about 1 a.m. Feb. 24 at his Springdale home in Hamilton County.

        However, Sheriff Tom Ariss and Children's Services Director Jeff Centers said they feared the incident could damage Mr. Teague's credibility and effectiveness in prosecuting child abuse offenders.

        “If you look at the big picture, he is supposed to be protecting kids and he is assaulting his kid,” Sheriff Ariss said. “What impression does that give to a jury?”

        Also troublesome, he said, was a witness' statement that Mr. Teague's son, Tony, was holding his baby when his father shoved him several times and taunted him to fight.

        Mr. Teague, who could not be reached Thursday, told internal investigators that he was drinking and that he shoved his son after repeated warnings to stop swearing. He denied that his son was holding the baby at the time.

        Tony Teague, 34, of Goshen, responded to the shove by punching his father in the face, causing a laceration that required a dozen stitches, reports show.

        Springdale police reported the incident to Warren County sheriff's officials because of Mr. Teague's employment there, but declined to file charges after consulting with prosecutors.

        Mr. Teague was an officer with the Springdale force until he retired and joined Warren County in 1998.

        Mr. Centers said he is sad to see Mr. Teague leave, despite the trouble that forced him out. His resignation leaves the county with one child abuse investigator to pick up a growing case load.

        “He's top-notch. The guy is a pro,” Mr. Centers said. “I think it was one of those situations that just got away from him, and it was agreed by all parties that he just needed a fresh start.”

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