An actor, known for his work in family television shows such as “7th Heaven” and “Party of Five”, has been charged with a misdemeanor count of battery of a spouse or cohabitant, as reported by several news media sites, including City News Service.
Jeremy London was charged after an alleged incident with his estranged wife, which escalated from an argument about their son to a scuffle outside of a home in the Mountain Gate complex in Palm Springs.
London, currently not in custody and without a court date, allegedly roughed up his wife in full view of the couple’s 5 year-old son.
The victim is identified as “Jane Doe” in the criminal complaint. The police report stated that Doe called them to the home on the morning of November 18. Police Detective Michael Studer wrote in a declaration in support of the arrest that Doe claimed that London hurt her while standing outside of London’s car.
Studer wrote that while their son was allegedly inside London’s car “(She) said (their son) was yelling, ‘I don’t want to go.’”
London apparently slept in the same home that evening and, after waking, took the boy – still in his pajamas – into his car so that they two could go out to breakfast together.
Allegedly Doe didn’t approve of London’s plan anymore than her son did so she removed London’s backpack from the vehicle in an attempt to stop them. London retaliated, per Studer’s report, by grabbing Doe “by her hair, pulling her to the ground. London hit her several times on the side of the head in an attempt to take the backpack away. (She) said eventually she let go of the backpack and got up off the ground to get (the boy) out of the car.”
Studer wrote that immediately following the incident London left.
The report included statements made by the child as well. Studer wrote that while being interviewed by a police officer he said that he saw his father pulling his mother’s hair. The boy also said “My dad was a bad boy.”
Reporters noted that London was married to Melissa Cunningham in 2006 and is currently separated. The woman that called police to her aid told them that she had been separated from London for two years. A divorce was pending but she was unable to obtain it due to financial issues. She also told Studer, and he noted it in his report, that London had refused to sign the divorce paperwork.
London was in the news in June of 2010 when he claimed to have been kidnapped and robbed in Palm Springs. Allegedly during the incident he was forced, at gunpoint, to purchase drugs and alcohol.
One of the men involved in the kidnapping pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and unlawful taking of a vehicle.
London is facing up to a year in county jail, according to District Attorney Office spokesman John Hall, if convicted of the battery charge.
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