EAST LYME, Conn. — The East Lyme police chief was arrested and placed on administrative leave, the Connecticut State Police said Wednesday.
Michael Finkelstein is facing charges of disorderly conduct and breach of peace in the second degree, state police said.
According to an arrest warrant from state police, the East Lyme Police Department responded at 5:16 a.m. on Tuesday to a report of a "non-active physical domestic disturbance."
A woman told East Lyme officers that she was assaulted by Finkelstein Monday night, the warrant said. She said that she believed her nose was broken after he allegedly punched her in the face and added that he put her hands around her throat and threw his cell phone at her chest.
Police noted in the warrant that they saw multiple visible injuries on the woman, including "dried blood on her nose, upper lip and chin."
The woman explained in the warrant that she did not call 911 immediately because Finkelstein had allegedly told her that no one would believe her, and that he would "take steps to ensure she was unbelievable." Additionally, she alleged that Finkelstein had a history of going into "fits of rage" after drinking alcohol and that there have been previous physical altercations.
Police were told by the woman that Finkelstein allegedly had multiple drinks throughout the night and was arguing with her leading up to the assault, according to the warrant. She also said that she had taken his work cell phone, which escalated into a struggle as Finkelstein attempted to get it back.
In the warrant, police said that when they talked to Finkelstein, he told them that she had taken his cell phone and was threatening to "get him in trouble" throughout the night. He also alleged that when he attempted to grab his cell phone from her, she pulled it back and when he let go, it hit her in the face.
Police argued that his explanation did not make sense as he had also told them she was sitting down at the time and he had been standing in front of her, which would mean that she would be pulling downwards and not "up towards her face," the warrant said.
The town's First Selectman Dan Cunningham said that Finkelstein has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the criminal investigation.
Cunningham added that an emergency Board of Police Commissioners meeting was held Wednesday night at 7 p.m. to discuss who will fill Finkelstein's role.
Finkelstein was expected to appear in New London Superior Court on Wednesday and was held on a $10,000 bond, according to state police.
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