Connecticut Police Chief Arrested Over Alleged Domestic Dispute

A local Connecticut police chief was arrested after allegedly punching a woman in the face during a domestic dispute earlier this week.

East Lyme Police Chief Michael Finkelstein was arrested Wednesday and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree breach of peace, CT Insider reported. He did not enter a plea when he appeared in court later the same day and was released on $10,000 bail.

Finkelstein has also been placed on administrative leave and Lt. Michael Macek will serve as acting chief pending the results of an investigation, officials said.

According to the warrant issued for his arrest, police were called to Finkelstein's home shortly after 5:16 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a “non-active physical domestic disturbance.” When they arrived at the scene, they were greeted by one of Finkelstein's family members, who claimed the police chief had assaulted her the night before, NBC Connecticut reported. She noted that she did not immediately alert authorities because Finkelstein told her he would do his best to make sure no one at the police department believed her claims.

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 said she and Finkelstein argued Monday after he consumed at least three or four glasses of wine and then hard alcohol. At some point in the evening, she took his phone and began searching it, convinced he had tried to call a co-worker with whom he allegedly had an affair some time ago, according to arrest documents .

When Finkelstein tried to take his phone back, the two men struggled and their confrontation escalated into physical violence. She claimed Finkelstein “punched her in the face,” wrapped his hands around her throat and snatched the phone from her before throwing it at her chest. She added that it was not uncommon for the police chief to suffer tantrums after drinking too much and that their arguments had previously been physical.

Finkelstein told authorities he didn't mean to hurt the woman, but she was hurt while they fought over her phone. He said he tried to take her cell phone, she pulled it out and he dropped it in her face. The police chief also claimed she threatened to “get him in trouble” and intentionally did not wash her face so she would still be bloody when police arrived on scene.

Finkelstein is due back in court June 18.