Phila. officer charged with assault on friend

A Philadelphia police officer was arrested Wednesday on charges of assaulting, threatening, and stalking a female friend this year.

Anthony Floyd, 46, a member of the Narcotics Bureau's Intensive Drug Investigations unit and a 26-year veteran of the department, retired Tuesday after learning of the charges he was facing: simple assault, making terroristic threats, stalking, reckless endangerment, and harassment.

Floyd is the third Philadelphia police officer in just over a week to land in the news with a career-ending scandal. On May 3, Officer Rudolph Gary was charged with murder in the shooting of his unarmed brother-in-law in an apparent dispute over a water-gun fight. Gary also wounded two bystanders, police said.

And on Tuesday, Sgt. Robert Ralston was fired from the department after admitting he shot himself and fabricated a story about being shot by a man. Police sources have speculated that Ralston concocted the tale because he wanted to be transferred to another district, or because he wanted attention.

Both men have been suspended pending termination from the force.

Police opened an investigation into Floyd on Feb. 3, said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore, after a female friend of Floyd's reported a domestic assault.

Floyd's union contract required that police inform him of the charges and give him three days to surrender, Vanore said. Floyd retired after learning of the charges, then turned himself in to Internal Affairs the next day.

It was unclear whether Floyd will receive his pension. He is not charged with committing any crimes while on duty, or with using his position to commit crimes. Vanore said it would be up to the pension board to decide.