A former general counsel at several public agencies in the Tampa Bay area was arrested  on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

A woman claimed Steven Anderson hit her across the face with a hat and then threw it at her, Tampa police said. She told police Anderson, 70, came into her room and pulled her out of bed by the arm while she was sleeping.

The police department said the woman feared for her life. Anderson denied hitting her, the police added.

Anderson was booked at the Hillsborough County jail shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday and was released Thursday afternoon on $500 cash bond, according to online jail records, which did not indicate a retained attorney who could be contacted for comment on his behalf.

According to his  Anderson served as GC at the Tampa Port Authority, the Tampa Sports Authority, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's office and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority, according to his online bio at Steven A. Anderson P.L.

The politically connected Anderson was a Democratic fundraiser for Lawton Chiles, who served as Florida governor from 1991 to 1998 and U.S. senator for nearly 20 years before that.

Now in private practice, Anderson focuses on government representation, administrative law, construction issues and commercial litigation, representing clients before the governor, state Cabinet, Legislature, administrative agencies and county and city agencies.

“Because of his broad experience in governmental issues, Mr. Anderson is frequently called upon to help develop both long and short range strategies and proposals at both the local and state levels,” the website said.