Police report details arrest of defender

A Clark County deputy public defender arrested Sunday on domestic battery charges threatened to kill his wife if she left him, punched her in the eye and scratched her face, according to a Las Vegas police report.

Stephen Immerman, 49, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of battery domestic violence and coercion. His wife told police that he also punched himself in the eye.

The report states that Immerman's wife tried to call police Sunday afternoon after he drank five or six vodka drinks and berated her at the couple's home near Charleston Boulevard and Hualapai Way.

Immerman pushed his wife onto a couch, took the phone from her and stepped on it, according to the report.

He then punched her in the face with a closed fist and scratched her, it continued.

Officers said Immerman's wife had a bump above her eye and a scratch between her upper lip and nose.

She told police that Immerman was going "off the deep end" and had been drinking heavily.

Immerman told police that he argued with his wife because of her drinking, but said it was "no big deal," according to the report.

He told officers he was a public defender and declined to answer specific questions about the dispute. Police said he appeared intoxicated and "was in complete denial of committing a battery" on his wife, the report continued.

The public defenders office placed Immerman on unpaid leave and is investigating the incident.