The White House staffer and longtime Capitol Hill aide arrested Aug. 7 for allegedly shooting at her Capitol Police boyfriend has been indicted for first degree assault, Maryland authorities said Tuesday.  

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks also announced charges against Barvetta Singletary of second degree assault, reckless endangerment and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Singletary was placed on unpaid leave from her job as special assistant to the president and House legislative affairs liaison after the arrest. She is free on a $15,000 bond, with her access to the White House revoked. Singletary has hired defense attorney Rosalyn Pugh, who was not immediately available for comment.  

Capitol Police did not immediately respond to questions about their own probe into the matter. The dignitary protection detail officer who is the alleged victim was initially placed on administrative leave.  

Authorities provided a narrative account of the allegations in the indictment:

On August 7, 2015, Singletary invited the officer, Reginald Cleveland to her home. When he arrived, they engaged in a brief sexual encounter and then Singletary began asking him about another woman he was dating. She asked to see his cell phone and he refused.

Singletary then went to Cleveland’s vehicle and asked again to see his cell phones. When he refused, she reached inside the vehicle and pulled two phones and his service weapon from a bag inside and went back into her house. Cleveland followed her in, attempting to retrieve his phones and service weapon.

Back inside her residence, Singletary demanded the cell phone passcodes and Cleveland again refused. Singletary then said she knew how to use the gun and wasn’t afraid to use it. When Cleveland still wouldn’t give up his passcodes, Singletary fired one round in his general direction, but it did not strike him. Fearing for his life, Cleveland left the residence and called 911.

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