“A local TV reporter accused of hitting his girlfriend in a hotel room has been placed on a leave of absence, the station announced Tuesday.

“Officers responded to a call on Friday at about 7:50 p.m. and found a 42-year-old woman whose mouth and upper lip area were injured, police said. The woman and her boyfriend, Rodney “Rod” Luck, 58, are both from La Jolla, police said.

“‘Rod has been put on a leave of absence, and the leave of absence does not have a timeline and is because of his arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and battery,’ KUSI News Director Steve Cohen said after the announcement was made on-air Tuesday morning.

“‘We thought it best to not have him on the air while he deals with these allegations against him, and once the case is settled, then we’ll decide what we’d like to do from there,’ Cohen said.

“The woman told officers that the KUSI reporter hit her in the mouth with his fist, police said. She was treated at the scene and released after giving a statement.” [NBC SD]