The Riviera Beach Police Department said in a statement that Chief Nathan Osgood had resigned on Friday after an internal investigation and an independent inquiry both found he had “deviated from proper procedure” last August, when Councilman Douglas Lawson was detained over a domestic dispute.

On August 29, 2021, Lawson was caught on surveillance cameras shoving his then fiancée, Jade Calloway, according to WPTV. The incident took place in the elevator and parking garage of the Marina Grande condominium, where the couple lived.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office found at the time that there was probable cause to arrest Lawson for simple battery. However, no charges were filed because Calloway declined to co-operate with investigators.

The two investigations into Osgood’s conduct—a 156-page internal affairs study and a 128-page report by a Miami-based consultancy—both concluded that he “did not follow state and Riviera Beach Police policy” when he directed Captain Rochelet Commond to release Lawson, according to the police statement.

Osgood also incorrectly ordered Commond to file a probable cause affidavit, which should only be used if an offender is not at the scene and a warrant must be issued for their arrest. When Commond resisted, he was fired. He has since been reinstated.

The Riviera Beach PD added that the independent report found Osgood had “directed the un-arrest of Lawson without direct on-scene knowledge and with limited information.” The independent inquiry determined that the allegations of misconduct against Osgood were inconclusive.

The full reports are due to be released shortly.

Riviera Beach City Manager Jonathan Evans said in a statement that it was “disappointing” the investigations had “uncovered members of the command staff had a gross misunderstanding of the statute, as well as their own policy that governs the handling of domestic violence incidents.”

The police statement added: “Osgood believed Lawson committed no act of domestic violence, incorrectly directed the filing of a probable cause affidavit, and recommended the City Manager fire Commond as a result of insubordination for allegedly failing to file a probable case affidavit.”

Osgood’s patrol car was returned to the city on Friday morning, WPTV reported.

Major Joshua Lewis has been named interim police chief of Riviera Beach. He has been with the department for 25 years.

Newsweek has contacted the Riviera Beach Police Department and Councilman Douglas Lawson for comment.