[ME] Wife's recant and "refusal to cooperate" result in Sgt. Sawyer being cleared of abuse charge

...Michelle Sawyer "has been steadfast in her refusal to cooperate with the district attorney's office and police... After an extensive, continuing investigation, the state has concluded there is insufficient evidence to substantiate and prove the victim's initial report that she was assaulted"...

Previous Posts:

• [ME] Maine Trooper Sgt. Sawyer was arrested for felony domestic violence - Maine State Police sergeant Mark Sawyer is on administrative leave, charged with felony aggravated domestic assault. It's "aggravated" because of her (the victim's) injuries.
• [ME] Trooper Sgt. Sawyer's wife now says her injuries are from a fall- ..."I lost my balance and slipped on the slippery hardwood floor..."

OFFICER CLEARED
Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)
By Betty Adams
Thursday, July 16, 2009
[Excerpts] A Maine State Police sergeant whose wife recanted a statement that he assaulted her has returned to work after prosecutors dismissed a criminal charge... [Mark] Sawyer initially was charged by Oakland police with aggravated domestic assault relating to an incident March 16 in the couple's Oakland home in which Michelle Sawyer, 35, suffered a fractured collar bone. The district attorney's office declined to prosecute the aggravated domestic assault, which is a felony charge, and instead charged Sawyer with a misdemeanor assault, Deputy District Attorney Alan Kelley said Wednesday. He said that decision was based on the nature of the injury. Then District Attorney Evert Fowle filed for dismissal of the charges last month. Michelle Sawyer "has been steadfast in her refusal to cooperate with the district attorney's office and police," Fowle said. "After an extensive, continuing investigation, the state has concluded there is insufficient evidence to substantiate and prove the victim's initial report that she was assaulted"... At a hearing in April, a judge accepted Michelle Sawyer's sworn statement, made at the Oakland Police Department two days after the incident, saying she was never assaulted. "I lost my balance and slipped on the slippery hardwood floor, crashing down between the kitchen island and a large box that was sitting next to the island," she said in the statement. She added that her husband "has never been verbally or physically assaultive in any way." She said the two had been discussing a separation. Mark Sawyer was placed on paid administrative leave from his job shortly after the initial charge. He was placed on unpaid leave in April... [Full article here]
[state police officerinvolved domestic violence law enforcement teflon fear recant* maine jail sgt.]