Note: This story was updated at 9:42 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9.

PORTSMOUTH — A 17-year veteran of the Portsmouth Police Department has been suspended from his job with pay following his arrest last week on a charge of domestic simple assault.

Lt. George L. Grassi, 48, of 11 Atlantic St., Newport, was arrested Thursday, May 4, by Rhode Island State Police and charged with domestic assault and battery, according to information released by Laura Meade Kirk, the department’s director of public information.

The arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred earlier that day on Route 95, during a ride from Providence to Newport, State Police said.

The alleged victim was a 37-year-old woman who lived with Lt. Grassi, according to State Police. She was treated at Newport Hospital for minor injuries, police said.

Lt. Grassi was arraigned that day in Third District Court and released on personal recognizance, pending further court action, according to State Police.

“(Lt.) Grassi has been suspended with pay from the Portsmouth Police Department pending the disposition of his criminal case," according to an e-mail released Monday afternoon by Major Brian P. Peters, Portsmouth's deputy police chief. 

Deputy Chief Peters declined to comment further on the matter.

”The Rhode Island law enforcement officers' bill of rights limits the department and prevents the department from making any further statements other than what has been released," he stated in an e-mail to The Portsmouth Times.

Lt. Grassi was promoted to his current rank in 2014. He leads the department’s patrol division.