An Anne Arundel County police officer was charged Thursday with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment arising from a domestic incident, the police department said.

Lt. Matthew Ploor, a 20-year veteran of the department, was involved in “an incident” unrelated to his policing duties, the agency said in a news release. Its Office of Professional Standards was notified on Tuesday and Ploor was charged Thursday.

Ploor, 44, who is assigned to the Bureau of Administration, has been suspended without pay, the release said.

The officer allegedly hit a teenage victim, police said in charging documents. The department offered the following account:

Ploor was downstairs in a home when he heard his girlfriend in an argument with her daughter.

The teenager, identified in records as “Victim A,” is accused of hitting her mother and throwing a chair; she has been charged as a juvenile. Ploor ran upstairs and intervened.

The teenage victim told police that Ploor grabbed her, pushed her into a vanity, punched her in the chest and pushed his elbow into her throat, “causing her to have issues breathing.”

Another child witness confirmed the altercations and told police that Ploor appeared “very mean and angry,” but did not provide details.

When Ploor told police about the incident, he said the 15-year-old had hit and injured her mother in the past. Ploor told police that when he went to the teen’s room after hearing the fight, she stood up and clenched her fist, so he grabbed her arm.

Ploor told investigating officers that he thought the teenager was going to punch him, but she missed after he moved his arm, which he said landed on her “breast line.” That caused the victim to trip and land on the floor, Ploor told police.

He told responding officers that he disengaged after the 15-year-old fell, then he left the room.

Ploor has a court date scheduled for May 15, according to online records. He does not have an attorney listed, and he did not appear to have been arrested or processed as of Thursday afternoon.

Ploor could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a written statement, Police Chief Amal Awad said she found “the allegations against Lt. Ploor concerning.”

“We hold our officers accountable to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct,” she said. “As this case progresses through the judicial system, we will continue to cooperate with the Office of the State’s Attorney. As is standard practice, we will conduct an administrative investigation once this case has been adjudicated.”

O’Brien Atkinson, president of the union that represents Anne Arundel County police officers, said he was aware of the charges.

“The allegations are serious and have to be treated as such. At the same time, it is critical that due process is followed and that all facts are fully examined before conclusions are drawn,” he said in a statement.

Banner reporter Alex Mann contributed to this story.

This story may be updated.