Mississippi lawmaker punched wife after she took too long to undress for sex, report alleges

A Mississippi lawmaker allegedly punched his wife in the face after she didn't undress quickly enough when he wanted to have sex, according to a report.

Republican state Rep. Doug McLeod of Lucedale was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, the Sun Herald reported, citing a document filed with the George County Sheriff's Department. The 58-year-old was drunk and holding a glass of alcohol when deputies arrived at the family's home Saturday night.

Deputies wrote in the report that McLeod had punched his wife in the face and bloodied her nose. They found blood on the couple’s bed and bedroom floor, according to the Sun Herald.

When McLeod opened the door and deputies told McLeod they were responding to a report of a domestic assault, McLeod reportedly replied, "Are you kidding me?"

Investigators said the state lawmaker “had slurred speech and walked slow in a zigzag pattern.” In the description, deputies said he was so intoxicated he had to grab a handrail to maintain his balance.

According to the Sun Herald, two women were standing at the top of a stairwell when deputies arrived and both appeared frightened.

McLeod's wife eventually came outside after deputies assured her they would keep her away from her husband, the paper reported. McLeod's wife said her husband was drunk and "just snapped," as he often does when under the influence of alcohol, the report said.

Another woman who was there said McLeod's wife came running up to her room and her face was bloodied, the Sun Herald reported.

The woman shut the door and locked it with McLeod's wife inside. She told authorities that McLeod started banging, yelling for them to open it. He told the other woman if she didn't open the door, he'd "kill her (expletive) dog."

McLeod was booked in the George County jail by early Sunday morning and was freed on bail. George County Sheriff Keith Havard said the investigation is continuing.

McLeod did not immediately return a request for comment.

McLeod has represented George and Stone counties since 2012. On Tuesday morning, State Senator David Blount, D-Jackson, called on him to resign.

House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said McLeod should step down if he did punch his wife.

"I have attempted to contact Rep. McLeod to request his resignation, if in fact, these allegations are true," Gunn said in a statement Tuesday. "These actions are unacceptable for anyone."

This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.

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