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ATTLEBORO - Retired Attleboro Police Chief Roland Sabourin was ordered Thursday to enter a private alcohol rehabilitation center after pleading innocent to charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife.

Sabourin, 59, must complete an alcohol detoxification program at the Gosnold Treatment Center in Falmouth and related outpatient care, pending a pretrial hearing Oct. 31.

"I'm very committed to this, your honor. I realize I have a problem and I want it straightened out," Sabourin told Judge Gregory L. Phillips in Attleboro District Court.

Sabourin - who retired in 2002 after 17 years as chief - was arrested around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at his South Attleboro home, allegedly after coming home drunk and threatening to kill his wife, Sara, during a quarrel.

He allegedly struggled with a police officer when the officer tried to handcuff him, but submitted to arrest after police sprayed him with pepper gas, according to court records. He pleaded innocent to domestic assault, uttering threats to kill and resisting arrest after the judge issued a restraining order requested by his wife.

Sabourin, a police officer for 32 years, was freed after arraignment and was ordered to stay at his sister's North Attleboro home. He is due to enter the rehab facility today.

Although there is no allegation of physical abuse in the criminal complaint against Sabourin, his wife alleged in an affidavit that she has endured "mental, emotional and physical abuse" for the past 15 years when her husband drank.

She wrote that she has hidden under her bed and gone to a hotel or her sister's house to escape the alleged abuse. The alleged physical abuse included pushing, pulling her hair and punching her head.

"He has thrown things, broken things, and hit me while I was attempting to drive," wrote Sara Sabourin, 55.

Although he did not physically abuse her Wednesday night, Sara Sabourin alleged the former chief threatened her if she called police.

"He said 'Go ahead, you (expletive). But I'm going to blow your (expletive) head off," according to Sara Sabourin's affidavit.

Her also allegedly threatened to blow her son's head off first when he came home "so you can watch," according to the affidavit.

Police were also called to the home in May after a verbal argument, but no arrest was made and Sara Sabourin did not file for a restraining order.

Sara Sabourin wrote that her husband began drinking heavily in 1995 after he found out he had cancer. He also drank after suffering a heart attack and enduring legal troubles in 2000, according to the affidavit. The couple separated but got back together about five months ago, according to hearing testimony from a court psychologist.

Sabourin did not contest the restraining order, which prohibits him from contacting his wife for one year. He must also surrender a firearm and the court revoked his license to carry a firearm.

After his arrest, Sabourin was booked and photographed and was released by a court magistrate. He was placed in custody again at the court when a police officer filed a civil petition for an alcohol evaluation.

After a hearing on whether Sabourin should be committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for an alcohol evaluation or a private facility, Phillips ordered a court officer to take the handcuffs off Sabourin.

The judge allowed him to remain free at the court until he made his decision later in the afternoon.

Sabourin and his wife left the court separately and declined to comment.

Roland Sabourin's lawyer, Robert Ovoian of Attleboro, declined to comment specifically on the allegations against his client, other than to emphasize they are "only accusations."

"He's presumed innocent until he's found guilty," Ovoian said.

After he is released from rehab, Sabourin must report to the probation department twice a week, refrain from alcohol and submit to random alcohol testing and visits from probation officers.