Phila. officer arrested for assaulting woman

A Philadelphia Police Officer was arrested today on assault charges for allegedly assaulting a woman at a hockey tournament held last month at a Northern Liberties playground.

Damien Walto, 30, a member of the department since 2007, has been suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss, police said.

Police were called to Jefferson Hospital shortly after 2 a.m. on July 18, where a woman told police Walto had assaulted her. The two got into an argument around midnight, police said, following an all-day hockey tournament at the Tip Top Playground on the NoLibs-Fishtown border.

The woman, 24, had visible injuries and was treated and released. Police said they did not believe she had known Walto prior to the dustup.

Walto, of the 22nd Police District, turned himself in to the Internal Affairs division today, police said. He is charged with aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, making terroristic threats and other offenses.