Birmingham police officer jailed for domestic violence and strangulation

A Birmingham police officer is behind bars for domestic violence.

Officer Justin Bisharat, 28, is charged with domestic violence/strangulation, police officials said Friday.

The investigation began Thursday when a woman went to headquarters to report an incident involving her longtime boyfriend, now identified as Bisharat, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said.

The Internal Affairs Division immediately investigated the incident and forwarded the case to the department’s Special Victims Unit.

Detectives interviewed the woman and Bisharat and learned the couple had been involved in a physical altercation in the 2700 block of 4th Avenue South.

The officer was on duty at the time, Fitzgerald said, but not in a Birmingham police vehicle.

Investigators found visible injuries on the victim.

Bisharat was taken into custody and held in the city prison for 48 hours.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Bisharat on Friday.

He will be held in the county jail with bail set at $30,000.

“The Birmingham Police Department responded quickly after being notified of this incident and conducted a thorough investigation,” said Police Chief Scott Thurmond. “The Birmingham Police Department does not condone this type of behavior and will not tolerate it.”