Court records detail more abuse allegations against McCollum
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Days after former state Rep. and current Benton County judge candidate Austin McCollum was arrested, his wife accused him of a pattern of domestic violence in court records filed Thursday.
The latest: An order of protection obtained by Axios prohibits Austin McCollum, 35, from contacting his wife, Ragen McCollum, 34, and grants her temporary custody of their 4- and 2-year-old children, according to an order signed by Benton County Circuit Judge Xollie Duncan.
Catch up quick: McCollum was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault of a family or household member, first-degree false imprisonment and misdemeanor domestic battery.
- He resigned from his state House of Representatives seat on Wednesday following widespread calls from Republican leaders to do so. McCollum has not withdrawn from the Benton County judge race, where he remains the only candidate on the November ballot. Arkansas law allows nominees to drop out only in narrow circumstances.
- Prosecutors had not filed formal charges as of Thursday afternoon, Benton County spokesperson Melody Kwok confirmed to Axios. McCollum's arraignment is Sept. 8.
McCollum did not respond to Axios' request for comment late Thursday afternoon.
Zoom in: The petition for an order of protection details Ragen McCollum's account of the events leading up to her husband's arrest and lists several additional incidents.
- The petition says McCollum has choked her multiple times to the point that she couldn't breathe, has put her in a headlock multiple times, has dragged her by the hair from one room to another and has pushed her down the stairs.
Zoom out: Axios requested audio recordings related to calls from McCollum's home on Friday and Saturday. Benton County denied the request, citing the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Act, which covers reports submitted to the Department of Human Services.
What's next: The temporary order of protection remains in effect until an Aug. 25 hearing on whether it should be extended.