PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A city fire battalion chief was taken into police custody early Saturday morning and is facing charges in connection with the alleged assault of an ex-girlfriend.

James Washabaugh, 54, was arrested after allegedly pushing his ex-girlfriend and shoving her to the floor. He is being charged with simple assault.

Authorities say the alleged incident happened around 1 a.m. at the Washington Plaza Apartments in Pittsburgh’s Uptown section.

According to the criminal complaint, Washabaugh and the woman had been together Friday evening at his mother’s home, and he later woke her up when he entered her apartment yelling obscenities.

The criminal complaint reports Washabaugh is accused of spitting on the woman, and pushing her into the corner of a doorway, which knocked her to the floor after she asked him to leave.

Washabaugh is then accused of pushing the woman against a wall in the hallway when she got back up and pushing her to the floor again, according to the criminal complaint.

In 2008, Washabaugh was charged with simple assault for threatening a woman’s life while he punched her and held her to the ground.

Washabaugh was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

He has been suspended from his job pending the outcome of the charges against him.

RELATED LINKS:
More Local News