A simple assault charge was withdrawn today in the case of a recently promoted city police lieutenant after his daughter and her mother asked that the charges be dropped.

District Judge Dennis Joyce dismissed the charge.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Berquist informed Judge Joyce that Lt. Charles Rodriguez' teenage daughter wanted to drop charges connected with an incident in April.

According to a criminal complaint, Lt. Rodriguez went to his daughter's house on April 29 to discipline her because she had been skipping school and sneaking out at night.

		Listen in Attorney Lee Rothman, attorney for Lt. Charles Rodriguez, comments on the end of the case

The girl called Ingram police, claiming that Lt. Rodriguez slapped her in the face a number of times and punched her in the stomach.

Police officers at the house noticed "redness and minor swelling" to the girl's lip and left cheek. Caseworkers from the Office of Children, Youth and Families were called to the house to evaluate the girl's condition. Police advised the girl's mother to seek medical attention for her because the girl was complaining of stomach pain.

Lt. Rodriguez told officers he went to the house to confront his daughter about her "increasing defiance," and he admitted that when she became disrespectful toward him, he slapped her.

Lt. Rodriguez is one of three recently promoted city police officers who have faced domestic abuse accusations, drawing criticism from women's groups.

Lt. Rodriguez was at today's court hearing but declined comment.

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More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.