The Seattle City Attorney’s office filed charges against state Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, today, July 8, for gross misdemeanor assault in connection with a domestic violence incident that occurred May 22 at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 26.

Simpson represents the 47th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. The district includes part of Renton.

A gross misdemeanor is punishable by 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine according to spokesperson Kimberly Mills for the city attorney’s office .

The charge filed by the prosecutor involves an alleged domestic violence incident on May 22 at Children’s where Simpson’s ex-wife attempted to keep him out of a room where his 12-year-old daughter was in the hospital recovering from surgery.

The Seattle Police Department report completed May 22 stated his daughter had asked him not to visit her while she was in the hospital.

According to the police report, Simpson pushed his ex-wife out of the room and used the door to “force her all the way out.”

According to his ex-wife’s statement in the police report, Simpson “barricaded the door and shut the blinds.”

The police report stated the security officer asked for his “ID/Lanyard.” According to the report Simpson said the hospital had no right to keep him from seeing his daughter and he left with the lanyard.

Seattle police were called and an officer spoke to witnesses and wrote the report.

According to the police report a social worker with Children’s Hospital witnessed the scene and her description of the incident matched what the ex-wife told the officer.

The social worker told the officer she saw Simpson “barrel” into the room, push his wife out and shut the door. According to the social worker’s statement in the police report Simpson closed the blinds and “barricaded himself inside using his body.” The social worker’s statement noted he was yelling inside the room and would not open the door.

The police report was forwarded to the Seattle City Attorney’s office and after review the city attorney filed the gross misdemeanor assault charge today.

Simpson’s wife filed for a temporary order for protection against him May 27. The order was reissued June 10 and extended through July 29.

Simpson said when reached by phone it was his court appointed day to see his daughter.

“On May 22 I went because it was my time to be with my daughter,” Simpson said when reached by phone.