Councilman's neighbor says wife was hit

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A neighbor says he witnessed a Beach councilman strike his wife Saturday evening.

Councilman John Uhrin was arrested last weekend after police took him in claiming they found “minor” injuries on his wife. The police report does not go into a narrative of what happened, but Uhrin was charged with domestic assault.

“She was in the car honking the horn for him to come to the car... they were going to stay in a hotel Saturday night for the Bruce Thompson walk on Sunday... She continued to honk the horn. He came out and told her to quit honking the horn, and then they started yelling. It is ridiculous, but that’s what it was about the honking of the horn, and I'm sure it attracted the neighbors attention too," Uhrin's attorney Sonny Stallings says.

A neighbor who does not want to be identified says they saw Uhrin strike his wife.

“The honking of the horn ended with Councilman Uhrin coming out of the house and hitting her three times in the head and face. I yelled, 'Hey, Uhrin quit beating your wife. I just witnessed you hit your wife three times.' I mean he reared back with his fist, and hit her, and when he heard me he went running back in the house," said the neighbor.

Stallings says the neighbor's claim is false.

“I've heard one report he hit her three times in the face, four times in the face, there is not a mark on her. He is not a small man. If he had struck his wife we would know it. Police would know it," Stallings said.

The police report their investigation shows an assault did take place but Uhrin's wife did not need to go to the hospital.

“She advanced on him, and took a swing at him. She took a swipe at him. He pushed her aside. She fell to the ground, and that pretty much was it. She may have a small scrape on her leg, but that is it. He didn't strike her. He didn’t hit her. She didn't have marks on her face," Stallings said.

Stallings says Uhrin's wife will be in court Tuesday. 

“She does not want a protective order," Stallings. "She wants her husband home. They are embarrassed by this incident. It was outside 10 at night. Obviously it was loud, and they want to put it behind them, but there was no assault and she is not injured in anyway. ”

Uhrin met with Mayor Will Sessoms and Sessoms told WAVY.com Uhrin is deeply embarrassed by the incident. Sessoms says Uhrin will have a statement Tuesday perhaps before the City Council meeting.

“There is no resigning and no being found guilty in my opinion," Stallings said. "He would be found not guilty, and the case dismissed, and chalk it up to if you are going to have a yelling match go inside. Don't do it in the driveway at 10 at night.”