Andy Griffith’s Son Held in Wife-Beating

The son of actor Andy Griffith was arrested in North Hollywood on Wednesday on charges of beating his wife and causing her to have a miscarriage, Los Angeles police said.

Sam Griffith, 34, of North Hollywood turned himself in at the local police station accompanied by his attorney, James E. Blatt of Encino, Detective Mike Coffey said.

According to a complaint filed by Sam Griffith’s wife, Renee Denise Griffith, 28, the beating occurred Jan. 6 after the couple got into an argument. Griffith, a real estate developer, allegedly hit his wife, who was two months pregnant, in the face several times with his fist, then kicked her several times in the stomach.

She suffered a broken finger and a miscarriage, Deputy District Atty. Jeffrey S. Gootman said.

She has also alleged that during other fights, her husband threatened her with a gun and fired it, Gootman said.

On Wednesday, Gootman filed four felony counts against Sam Griffith, including spousal abuse causing great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and negligently discharging a firearm.

Griffith was being held at the North Hollywood Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. He was scheduled for arraignment today in Van Nuys Municipal Court.