By Kristin E. Holmes
The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia police officer was arrested yesterday on charges that he assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to “shoot the family” during an altercation at the couple’s Upper Darby home.
Michael Minor Jr., 36, a Philadelphia officer for two years, was charged with assault, terrorist threats, and harassment. Bail was set at $50,000, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 5.
Minor, who also has a home in Southwest Philadelphia, has been put on paid administrative duty pending an investigation, Philadelphia police said in a statement. They declined to comment further.
Upper Darby police were called to the 7000 block of Clover Lane about 1:45 a.m. Minor’s girlfriend, 26, told police that she had been hit in the face and dragged off the couch onto the floor.
The alleged altercation happened while the couple’s two young children were in the home, police said.
Minor left before police arrived. His girlfriend told authorities that he had threatened to come back and “shoot the family.”
Minor was arrested when he returned to the Upper Darby home later yesterday.
Michael J. Chitwood, Upper Darby police superintendent, said domestic-violence cases were exacerbated when they involved officers because police are expected to protect the community.
Minor’s girlfriend had swelling on the right side of her head, scratches on a shoulder, and bruises on her neck, police said. She was treated at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and released.
She told hospital staff that she had been “assaulted, choked, punched in the face multiple times, and kicked by her son’s father,” according to police documents.
Minor had a long scratch on his forehead, police said, and furniture appeared to have been broken.
Minor works as a patrolman in the 12th District, in Southwest Philadelphia. He earlier worked as an officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, police said. He worked at the State Correctional Institution in Chester, a corrections department spokeswoman said.
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