WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa.–A Southwestern Regional Police officer who was recently named York County’s Police officer of the Year is facing criminal charges after he assaulted his wife, according to court documents.
Ofc. Bryn Lindenmuth, 34 , of York is charged with simple assault, false imprisonment and harassment. He was charged July 17 and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Police were dispatched Sunday to the 1100 block of Pinehurst Place in West Manchester Township for a reported domestic around 4:22 a.m.
Investigators with the West Manchester Township Police Department spoke with Lindenmuth’s wife who said she walked to her neighbors home because her husband, who is a police officer, took her phone so she couldn’t call for help, court documents state.
The officer noticed the woman had a large scratch on her left shoulder, brush burns on her knees, her shirt was torn and she was missing her bra.
The woman told police that she was involved in a four-hour domestic with Lindenmuth which started around 11 p.m. on Saturday when she returned home from a cookout with friends, according to the criminal complaint. The victim reported that Lindenmuth threw beer bottles into the front yard, ripped her clothing and pushed over a recliner while she was sitting in it. When she attempted to walk away, she said Lindenmuth pushed her and tried to throw her out a sliding glass door, according to the criminal complaint.
At one point, Lindenmuth tried to lock his wife in the garage and told her that she could sleep there, court documents state.
Eventually Lindenmuth’s wife was able to get away and get help. She told investigators this type of violence happened several times before but she was afraid to call police since her husband is a police officer, according to the criminal complaint. She said is scared of what Lindenmuth might do since she called police and made a report, court documents state. .
The couple’s two small children were not home during the incident.
Ofc. Lindenmuth is currently on paid administrative leave from the Southwestern Regional Police Department, according to Chief Gregory Bean. The department is doing an internal review into Lindenmuth’s actions to see if he violated any general orders.
A preliminary hearing for Lindenmuth is scheduled for Oct. 3.
