Man Charged after Hitting Woman in Front of Cop

A local man is facing domestic assault charges after he allegedly struck his girlfriend in view of a police officer.

Newport Police charged Shamiel A. Perry, 20, of 283 Spring St., Newport, with domestic simple assault and resisting arrest just after midnight Tuesday morning.

Police said an officer working an unrelated case was staking out a city apartment when he saw Perry get out of a parked car and assault a woman.

Perry reportedly was a passenger in a idling car when he got out, walked to the driver’s side, grabbed the female victim’s leg, took a shoe off her foot and threw it into the street.

Perry then allegedly slapped the woman in the face, according to a police report.

The nearby officer approached and identified himself as a police officer, which prompted Perry to run into the house, slamming the outside door in the officer’s face.

Police followed Perry as he ran into a unit in the apartment. After a brief struggle at the door, Perry eventually gave up and was taken into custody without further incident.

The victim refused to cooperate with the investigation, police said.

Perry was held for arraignment Tuesday.