The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has suspended an officer who is accused of assaulting his live-in boyfriend.
Matthew Schanz, 26, faces two felony domestic assault charges for allegedly choking the unidentified boyfriend during an argument on March 10. Schanz is also accused of smashing his partner's face against the wall of the bathroom, causing a gash that required stitches.
In addition, Schanz faces misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest after he drove away from the scene in south St. Louis and ignored requests from responding officers to pull over. Schanz was off duty when the incident occurred.
Schanz had been on administrative duty while the department conducted the criminal and an internal investigation. With the filing of formal charges today, he was suspended.
Police chief Sam Dotson issued the following statement:
"The department remains committed to upholding the law with the highest standards. We remain vigilant in our efforts to identify those who compromise its integrity and professionalism. We should not allow the actions of one to diminish the hard work and dedication of the nearly 1,300 men and women who serve the citizens of the community on a daily basis."
