An Omaha police officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Sean Heyenga is charged with felony strangulation and making terroristic threats after a domestic violence arrest Thursday night.

Bond was set at $20,000 for Heyenga in his first court appearance Friday. He was able to bail out with 10% of that or $2,000. However, the judge ordered him to stay away from his wife, Nicole Miller, and his 12 year-old boy, who told officers he heard the fight in question.

Officer Sean Heyenga has been a sworn police officer for Omaha police department since June of 2008. He had been a non-sworn O.P.D. employee before that, since November of 2007. He had no criminal background before his arrest Thursday night.

Officers got a call to a house at 63rd and Parker at 9:37 p.m. The sadly routine report took a twist when they discovered one of their own was allegedly involved.

"When they got there, the victim that her officers that her husband, who's an Omaha police officer had assaulted her," said Lt. Darci Tierney.

Officers wrote that Miller had "visible marks," of strangulation, which were “photographed by the crime lab.” She told police it all started after her husband came home that night. She says he had been drinking.

His 12 year-old son also told police he was there and heard the two argue about children, a fight that got physical.

Miller says Heyenga began to choke her and even threatened to kill her. She says she finally lost consciousness. When she came to, she went to a neighbor’s house for help. She was taken to Methodist Hospital.

Documents shared at Heyenga’s preliminary court appearance Friday, indicate that Miller had been victimized by her husband a number of times before. But she never reported them, “due to his position.”

"Very troubling,” said Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, “very sad to see someone who's in law enforcement involved with this situation. Obviously, domestic violence occurs across the spectrum."

Kleine says Miller's injuries were serious enough to cut off her breathing, which is why such a charge as felony strangulation exists. It’s punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Heyenga is currently on administrative leave from the Omaha Police Department. "It's difficult and it's obviously disappointing,” said Lt. Tierney. “But at the same time it is a crime and we will investigate it thoroughly, and we'll also investigate it internally as well."

Heyenga will have a court-appointed attorney after telling the judge that he could not afford to hire one. He said it's because of bills and his wife being unemployed.