Worcester County Sheriff deputy arrested in connection to domestic assault

POCOMOKE, Md.— A Worcester County Sheriff deputy was arrested Monday in connection with domestic assault. 

Cpl. Stephen Gulyas was charged with domestic-violence-related second degree assault, according to the Maryland State Police. The victim in his case remains unidentified.

Hired in 2010, Gulyas served as a K9 handler assigned to the Field Services Division at the time of this investigation. He was suspended on Monday, according to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. 

The 36-year-old was taken into custody that evening, at about 7:30 p.m. 

Gulyas was arrested by investigators from the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division Lower Shore, after receiving a request from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the incident, according to a recent release from State Police. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, the now-suspended deputy had been taken before a court commissioner and released on $10,000 unsecured bond.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office opened an internal investigation that ran concurrently with the criminal investigation initiated by the Maryland State Police, according to a recent press release from the office. 

“I take this charge very seriously and I applaud the diligence and care taken by the Maryland State Police," said Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli in a statement released Tuesday. "It’s important that everyone knows that the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office values transparency and sharing critical information with the public. While I cannot comment further, as it could jeopardize the investigation, I fully believe that the community deserves to know when a member of this agency has been charged with a crime.”