​Criminal charges against longtime Philadelphia sports figure Mike Missanelli have been withdrawn, three months after they were filed. The former radio host, well known in the Philadelphia sports scene, faced simple assault and harassment accusations following an April arrest prompted by an incident with his fiancée inside their Lower Merion home. The assault charge was dropped late last month, and on Wednesday a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office released a statement explaining that, after reviewing additional information, the office determined it would withdraw the charges.
According to the April criminal complaint, Missanelli told responding police officers that his fiancée hit him in the chest during a heated argument. In contrast, the unnamed fiancée told police that Missanelli slapped her face with an open hand during their ongoing engagement dispute. One officer at the scene observed that Missanelli’s fiancée had fresh blood on her forehead at the time of the incident. Missanelli has not commented on the dropped charges, declining to speak with The Inquirer, and has not posted on social media since the April incident.
Missanelli’s career in Philadelphia sports media spans several decades. He started as a writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer before moving to WIP as an on-air talent, a position from which he was removed in 2006 following an alleged altercation with a producer. In 2010, he joined 97.5 The Fanatic, a tenure that lasted until 2022 and was marked by controversy at times. Missanelli returned to The Fanatic in August 2024 as a full-time midday host, but parted ways with the station again the following summer. After his latest departure, he hosted a show on the OnPattison Podcast Network, though there have been no new postings since the April arrest.
The development of the dropped charges marks a significant turn in a case that had kept Missanelli under scrutiny within local sports media circles. As the DA’s Office notes, the decision to withdraw came after reviewing new information, underscoring the evolving nature of it. The case remains a topic of interest for fans who follow Missanelli’s career across Philadelphia radio and podcast platforms, as questions about the details of the incident and the resulting legal action continue to circulate in local media coverage.
This story was originally published by Awful Announcing under the headline: “Criminal charges against Philadelphia sports personality Mike Missanelli dropped.” For readers seeking updates on Missanelli’s legal status and professional endeavors, recent reports indicate that the formal charges have been dismissed, though the public details of the case remain limited by privacy considerations surrounding the individuals involved.