Ex-York City cop to pay fine in domestic assault case

A York City Police officer charged with assaulting his wife earlier this year will have to pay a fine in that case.

During a guilty plea hearing Thursday, Oct. 25, Ritchie Paige Blymier, 48, pleaded guilty to harassment, which is a summary offense akin in seriousness to a traffic citation.

As part of his negotiated plea agreement, his misdemeanor charge of simple assault was dropped.

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Blymier, of the Spring Grove area, admitted to Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Bortner that he held his wife down on May 20.

Senior deputy prosecutor John Hamme told the judge that Blymier's wife, Brenda Blymier, agreed to her husband's plea agreement.

Ritchie Blymier was ordered to pay $300 within 90 days. 

Philip Given, chief of staff for York City Mayor Michael Helfrich, told The York Dispatch last month that Ritchie Blymier retired from the department effective July 15. He had been with the department since September 1996, Given said.

Ritchie Blymier was placed on paid administrative leave by York City Police when the charges were filed against him, city officials have said.

Hearing: Chris Ferro, Blymier's attorney, said the plea accurately defines what really had happened that night.

"The initial story was blown significantly out of proportion, and I believe both sides were equally responsible for this unfortunate situation. I'm glad it's over and happy that Ritchie can move on with his life now," he said.

Ferro said Blymier's plea will not affect his pension.

Kyle King, spokesman for the York County District Attorney's Office, said they believed the outcome was appropriate based on the facts and circumstances of this case.

Background: Southwestern Regional Police were called to the Blymier home about 12:20 p.m. May 20, where they found Brenda Blymier with scratches around her neck and chest as well as wrist injuries, according to charging documents.

Those documents allege the Blymiers were arguing when Ritchie Blymier became upset, pushed his wife onto a chair, got atop her and grabbed her wrists while pressing his knee on her stomach to hold her down.

He then put his hands on her chest and throat, police allege.

Afterward, she obtained a temporary protection from abuse order against her husband, according to court records, which state she filed for divorce on May 1.

Brenda Blymier's PFA petition stated her estranged husband is "very controlling ... and has 8 cameras inside and outside of our home watching everything we do."

— Reach Christopher Dornblaser at cdornblaser@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @YDDornblaser.