Pittsburgh police arrested state Rep. Jake Wheatley and his fiancée this morning and charged them both with simple assault stemming from an altercation in their home today.
Wheatley, 40, of the Hill District, and Angela Mike, 41, were arrested after police said the two argued at the home on Iowa Street over their young son's day care expenses. The pair share custody of the child.
District Judge Oscar Petite arraigned both Wheatley and Mike and released them from the Allegheny County Jail on a non-monetary bond with the condition they have no violent contact with each other.
"I want to say this is a tragedy on a lot of levels. I let a lot of people down today," Wheatley said as he left Pittsburgh Municipal Court with his attorney Blaine Jones. "I don't believe I caused it. I was only trying to defend myself."
Mike declined to comment. Wheatley and Mike left with Jones in his car.
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, the complaint said, and Mike called police.
Wheatley returned while police were there, and he told them the couple had argued and Mike charged him. He said he defensively grabbed Mike and pushed her away, and she slipped on the floor. He said she grabbed keys from the floor and hit him in the left knee, causing scrapes.
He said he left to prevent further violence, the complaint said.
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.
Wheatley, a Democrat, represents the 19th Legislative District which covers the lower North Side, Hill District, Uptown, Beltzhoover, Arlington and South Oakland. Wheatley was elected to the state House in
