Philly cop arrested in domestic assault that led to bystander’s injury

A Philadelphia police officer has been arrested for aggravated assault after he allegedly punched his wife and then chased her in his police cruiser, causing a crash that left an innocent bystander seriously injured.

Officer Antonio Mayhew, 30, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, official oppression, and related offenses, police said. Commissioner Richard Ross has suspended him for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

The incident began just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, when Mayhew, a 10-year veteran of the force assigned to South Philly’s first district, allegedly hit his wife in the head as she sat in the driver’s seat of her car on Market Street near 52nd, police said. When she took off in her car, Mayhew chased her in his cruiser, with lights and sirens on, police said. The wife crashed into another car at 61st and Walnut streets, critically injuring that driver, who was rushed to the hospital, police said.

Mayhew was on duty at the time, and not in his assigned patrol area, police said.

The incident was the second domestic violence arrest this week involving a Philly police officer.

In the other case, David Perez, 27, of Northampton Township in Bucks County, was arrested Wednesday for simple assault and stalking for allegedly attacking his wife, Philadelphia police Officer Caren Perez, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. The arrest came after ongoing abuse that allegedly started 2014 culminated in a shooting on April 18.David Perez, arrested for assaults on his wife, Caren Perez, a Philadelphia police officer. (Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)

On that night, Caren Perez had roused her three children, the youngest just a 1-year-old baby, from bed, and tried to leave with them after David Perez allegedly beat her, according to an affidavit. But Perez kicked her and then charged toward her in the driveway, prompting her to draw her personal handgun and fire, hitting him once in the abdomen, according to the affidavit. Authorities ruled the shooting self-defense, saying Caren Perez feared for her life while being assaulted.

David Perez also was charged with simple assault stemming from a 2015 incident at the couple’s previous home in Philadelphia, where he allegedly repeatedly punched his wife in the chest and face, according to the DA’s Office. David Perez was ordered jailed on $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was set for May 11.

Two other Philly police officers were arrested last week in unrelated cases.