Phila. officer charged with assaulting women

A Philadelphia police officer has been criminally charged with assaulting a girlfriend and his estranged wife, the department announced Thursday.

Howard Lomax, 40, was charged with two counts of simple assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, police said.

Lomax was arrested Wednesday and suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

On April 20, Lomax assaulted his live-in girlfriend at their home, police said. Four days later, he assaulted his estranged wife, police said. Lomax was a 17-year veteran of the department and assigned to Center City. - Robert Moran