The wife of Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson faces an assault charge in Harford County following an alleged physical altercation with the couple's 25-year-old foster daughter, according to police and court records.
Rebecca S. Johnson, 56, was charged with second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, on June 1 after Harford sheriff's deputies were called to her Fallston home that afternoon.
The county police department released a statement Wednesday confirming that Johnson's wife was involved in a domestic incident.
"Chief Johnson is deeply concerned about two people he cares about," the statement says.
The Johnsons have cared for their foster daughter, Lindsay, since she was 3 1/2 years old, according to the department.
"They became her foster parents through Baltimore City Social Services," the department said. "They were designated court appointed legal guardians on Lindsay's behalf."
Reached by phone Wednesday, Rebecca Johnson declined to comment on the charge.
According to an incident report filed by the sheriff's office, the daughter ran to a neighbor's house and asked for them to call 911 after an altercation with her mother.
She told a sheriff's deputy that she and Rebecca Johnson got into an argument after she asked for paychecks her mother had. She said her mother slapped her across the face.
"As a result of the slap the two became involved in an all out fight that went throughout the house and went outside the house onto the deck for a short period of time," the report states.
The sheriff's deputy observed injuries on Lindsay Johnson, who was crying and at times hysterical during the interview. She declined medical treatment.
The police department said the chief was at work in Towson when the incident occurred and at his home in Baltimore County that evening when he learned of his wife's charge.
Police spokesman Cpl. John Wachter said the chief lives in Baltimore County as required by county law, and also owns a home in Harford County.
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