Perzel’s son has
a brush with the law

Sam Perzel, the 18-year-old son of state Rep. John Perzel, will stand trial for simple assault and other charges stemming from an incident earlier this month on a South Philadelphia street corner.
The younger Perzel, of the 7800 block of Brous Ave. in Lexington Park, faced a preliminary hearing on Tuesday morning at the 3rd Police District headquarters.
According to police, he was arrested at about 12:05 a.m. on Nov. 18 during a melee on the 1600 block of S. Second St. (near Tasker Street).
The first police officers who responded to the scene saw 50 to 75 people gathered in the street near a bar. Some in the crowd were fighting. The officers called for backup.
In direct questioning from Assistant District Attorney Lauren Carella, police officer Melissa Curcio testified that she told Perzel to leave the scene. When he failed to do so, Curcio said she placed her arm on his to arrest him.
That’s when, according to the cop, the teen said, "Get off of me," and hit her in the face, leaving her with a bruise over her eye and redness on her cheek. The two wrestled to the ground before the officer arrested him.
After the preliminary hearing, Municipal Court Judge Harvey Robbins dismissed the most serious charge — aggravated assault.
The teenager, the youngest of John and Sheryl Perzel’s four sons, still faces misdemeanor charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.
The trial is set for Thursday, Dec. 27 in the Criminal Justice Center. Perzel is being represented by Joe Canuso.
Rep. Perzel (R-172nd dist.), a former speaker of the House of Representatives, declined comment, saying through a spokesman that the arrest is a family matter.
Since losing his speaker post earlier this year, Perzel has remained active on legislative issues. Perhaps his top priority is sponsoring a bill that would add 10,000 police officers to municipalities across Pennsylvania. •