City Health Director Charged with Assault, Suspended From Job

UPDATED: 10:40 p.m.

Bethlehem Health Director Judith Maloney was charged with simple assault and suspended from her job after allegedly hitting her boyfriend in the head with a glass candle holder at their home Thursday night, Bethlehem police said.

The alleged assault was apparently the result of an argument over Maloney failing to let the couple's dog outside, according to The Express Times, which cited court papers.

Michael Correll, Maloney’s boyfriend, suffered a cut to the top of his head, which required three staples to close at , the newspaper reported.

Maloney, 49, of 320 Grandview Boulevard, was charged with simple assault and harassment. She was arraigned before Lehigh County District Judge David Harding and released on $2,500 bail.

Mayor John Callahan announced Maloney's suspension on Friday afternoon, issuing the following statement: "We feel this is in the best interest of the city and the operation of the health bureau. We will take the necessary time to evaluate the situation, gather relevant facts and understand more fully what led to this event."

Meanwhile, Maloney's attorney, Melissa Rudas, issued a statement saying that the health director is "the true victim."

"She is a longtime victim of emotional abuse and domestic violence at the hands of Mr. Correll," Rudas said in a prepared statement issued to the local media. "The alleged victim's version of the events of Thursday night are inaccurate and exaggerated. More details will emerge regarding Ms. Maloney's relationship with the alleged victim and with regard to Thursday night as this case proceeds."

The Morning Call noted that Maloney has had previous brushes with the law – a drunk driving charge and a harassment charge – which resulted in being briefly suspended from her job in 2008.

The harassment charge was ultimately dropped and Maloney completed a program for first-time offenders to have the drunk driving charges expunged.