A Flowery Branch man and Braselton police officer was charged Sunday with battery and third degree cruelty to children, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a domestic dispute in the 5800 block of Union Church Road, said Col. Jeff Strickland, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

The couple had been arguing, and the fight turned physical, Strickland said.

"A preliminary investigation by a domestic violence officer found that Raymond Rutledge, 36, had pushed an adult and child down onto a bed," he said. "He’s employed by Braselton police and was off duty during that time."

Rutledge was released from Hall County Jail Monday afternoon on $5,000 bond.

"We have put him on administrative leave until we get through with the internal investigation," said Braselton Police Chief Terry Escho. "Then we’ll go from there. This is basic standard procedure."

The incident also remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division.