Wife claims councilman did not hit her

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - In light of a domestic assault arrest, Beach Councilman John Uhrin and his wife say he did not strike her outside of their home during an argument last weekend.

Uhrin made a statement Tuesday at City Hall prior to the informal session held by council members insisting, with his wife beside him, that anyone who saw him strike his wife three or four times in the face did not understand what was happening.

They insist that she swatted at him and then lost her balance.

Uhrin was arrested Sunday night after neighbors say he struck his wife in the Uhrins' yard as they were arguing.

"Cathy and I are just very embarrassed and ashamed at what happened at our house on Saturday," Uhrin said.

Councilman Uhrin acknowledged that he and his wife had a verbal confrontation in their driveway.

"In terms of the larger allegation of an assault and those type of things, they just did not happen," he added.

"We had a verbal confrontation," Catherine Uhrin said. "We are extremely embarrassed it happened in the driveway. I am an impatient person. I was beeping on the horn, it attracted attention and then we had a verbal confrontation. It escalated into something it wasn't."

Police said they arrested Uhrin after they saw signs of an assault. While addressing the media Tuesday, Catherine showed reporters a scratch by her ankle. She says she fell when she was swatting and waving her arms.

John Uhrin told reporters he thinks the charges will be dismissed.

Tuesday, Uhrin's wife got a protective order lifted against her husband so he could return home.