Longtime Philadelphia sports radio voice Mike Missanelli was arrested early Wednesday after Lower Merion Township police traced a 911 hang up to a Wynnewood home and found a domestic dispute that officers say had turned physical, authorities said. Police reported that Missanelli's fiancée had visible injuries, and he was taken into custody at the scene and booked on charges tied to the incident. The case is now headed toward a preliminary hearing later this month.
According to CBS Philadelphia, responding officers spoke with Missanelli, who told investigators the argument had "turned heated and into a 'scuffle,'" as described in the criminal complaint. Court records cited by the outlet say Missanelli was arrested at the scene and charged with simple assault and harassment, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 22.
The criminal complaint reviewed by CBS Philadelphia alleges Missanelli slapped his fiancée with an open hand, causing a cut on her forehead. Officers reportedly observed blood on her forehead and swelling on her ear. The complaint also notes that Missanelli told police his fiancée struck him during the argument. Police documented that Missanelli did not have any injuries when he was arrested.
What the charges mean under Pennsylvania law
Under Pennsylvania law, simple assault is defined as attempting to cause, or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing, bodily injury and is generally graded as a misdemeanor of the second degree. Harassment covers conduct intended to "harass, annoy or alarm" another person and can be charged as a summary offense or a misdemeanor depending on the subsection. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701 and § 2709 for the statutory language. Actual penalties depend on how prosecutors classify the conduct and on any prior record, and the preliminary hearing will be the next step to determine whether the charges move forward.
Missanelli's profile in Philly sports media
Missanelli has been a fixture in Philadelphia sports talk radio for decades, with high profile runs at 97.5 The Fanatic and 94 WIP, and a recent return to The Fanatic last year, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. His on air persona and past legal dust ups have kept his off mic life in the local spotlight.
Missanelli is presumed innocent as the case proceeds. The April 22 preliminary hearing in Montgomery County is the next formal step, and further details are likely to emerge through court filings or official police releases as the matter moves forward.
