An 8-year veteran of the Boston police force is facing an assault charge after allegedly slapping and throwing a woman to the ground during an altercation at a home in Tewksbury on Tuesday night, authorities said.
Officer Patrick McCarthy, 35, of Boston, was arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court on a charge of assault and battery on a household member, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office said in a statement.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he was released on his own recognizance with conditions that he abide by a restraining order, have no contact with the alleged victim, and possess no firearms.
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Kenneth H. Anderson, a partner in the Boston law firm that represented McCarthy at arraignment, declined to comment on the case, except to say that “we maintain his innocence.”
Ryan’s office said a woman told Tewksbury police at approximately 8:25 p.m. Tuesday that McCarthy threw her phone down a flight of stairs, threatened to push her down the staircase, slapped her, and threw her on the ground.
Officers later went to McCarthy’s residence and arrested him.
A spokeswoman for Ryan said she had no information on the nature of the relationship between McCarthy and the accuser. A working telephone number for McCarthy could not be located on Wednesday night.
Boston police Officer James Kenneally, a department spokesman, said McCarthy is on paid leave pending the outcome of the case.
“Additionally, an internal [department] investigation has been initiated to further explore the charges” pending against him in court, Kenneally said.
Payroll records indicate that McCarthy earned $124,064 last year. His next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.
Globe correspondents Lauren Fox and Alexandra Koktsidis contributed to this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.
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