Assault charge against Wheatley could be withdrawn

Allegheny County prosecutors agreed today to withdraw an assault charge against state Rep. Jake Wheatley after a 90-day cooling-off period provided there are no further incidents between he and his fiancée. At a preliminary hearing today, prosecutors also dropped an assault charge against the fiancée, Angela Mike, 41. The charges stemmed from an incident Friday at the Hill District home they share with their son. Police arrested both after she called to report an altercation. The pair arrived together at Pittsburgh Municipal Court for their hearings this morning. Wheatley, 40, a Democrat, represents the 19th Legislative District, which covers the lower North Side, Hill District, Uptown, Beltzhoover, Arlington and South Oakland. He was elected to the state House in 2002. He apologized to his constituents, his family and his fiancée after the hearing. "I will do all I can to let people know my real character," said Wheatley as he stood next to his attorney Blaine Jones. "I feel like both Angela and I never meant to have this kind of spectacle. It was bad judgment on my part. I'm apologetic and embarrassed." Mike's attorney, Reginald Bridges, said neither side wanted to push forward with charges. "They're a family. He was upset that morning. She wants her family back together," Bridges said. The two were arrested shortly after 8 a.m. at their Iowa Street home after an argument over their son's day care expenses. According to the police criminal complaint: Mike told police that Wheatley threw water on her face, grabbed her arms and pushed her to the ground. When she attempted to get up, she said, Wheatley again pushed her to the floor, where she scraped her left hand. He left in his car and Mike called police. Wheatley returned while police were there, and he told them that the couple had argued and Mike charged him. "He defensively grabbed Mike from charging him and pushed her away where he says Mike slipped on the floor," police wrote. Wheatley told police that Mike grabbed keys from the floor and hit him in the left knee, causing scrapes, according to the complaint. He said he left to prevent further violence, the complaint stated. Police said they saw bruises on Mike's arms and scrapes on her hand. Wheatley's left knee was scraped and bleeding, they said. Police said multiple items were scattered around the kitchen and condiments were spilled on the floor. Bridges said Mike denied anything physical on her part occurred. "With regard to his part, she's not commenting," Bridges said.