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PROVO -- A Provo police officer investigated for pulling a gun on his girlfriend is now under arrest. Officer Mark Petersen will likely face criminal charges, and his future as a police officer is in serious question.
Friends say Petersen is a nice guy who, on Sunday, let his emotions get the best of him.
A woman, who did not want to be identified, said, "Mark's a longtime family friend, and I love him a lot, and I just think he has a really stressful job and had a breaking point."
She says it is unlike Petersen to act so violently.
Petersen, a veteran Provo police officer, was off duty, early Sunday morning. Witnesses say the couple argued, Petersen stormed outside but came back. A woman, who didn't want to be identified but lives in the house said Petersen was upset because his girlfriend was with another man.
"He walked in and saw the victim, and he pulled out his gun and put the clip in it and was aiming it at her."
Petersen didn't fire but walked out. Friends say his girlfriend followed him outside and he pointed a shotgun at her. She called police.
Orem police have been handling this case since Sunday. The Provo Police Department asked Orem city investigators to handle the case to avoid a conflict of interest. Wednesday afternoon, Petersen was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a weapon and obstruction of justice.
"There was a gun involved, and there was some threats to officer Petersen's current girlfriend, who was the victim," said Orem police Sgt. Craig Martinez.
Police are still investigating and cannot confirm whether he pointed a gun at her head and if the gun he allegedly used was police-issued.
"You never want to see a police officer involved in an incident like this. But when it does [happen], he's got to be held accountable just like anybody else would," Martinez said. "I mean, it's hard for all of us. I know officer Petersen personally. I served on the SWAT team with him for several years. So, it does make it difficult, but we still have to do our job."
Petersen had previously worked in the detective division and was a patrol officer. In addition to the assault and weapons charges, he now faces a felony count of obstruction of justice. Police say that charge is because he made some inconsistent statements.
Friends say Petersen is a good person and a good cop who just made a terrible mistake.
"I certainly hope he wouldn't lose his job because he does a lot of good in the profession he's in," a friend said.
Petersen was booked into the Utah County Jail but will likely be moved to a jail outside of Utah County for his safety, which is standard practice when an officer is arrested. Bail has been set at $50,000 cash.
KSL News contacted the Provo Police Department Wednesday about Petersen's arrest. Officials there say they are concerned and call it unfortunate, but they are confident Orem police handled the case appropriately and that the truth will be found as the case moves through the courts.
A spokesman for the Provo Police Department told KSL Tuesday that Petersen was on paid administrative leave.
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Story written with contributions from Sam Penrod and Sandra Yi.
