Geraldo son bust
Bit and choked former flame: police
Geraldo Rivera’s son was busted for allegedly choking his ex-girlfriend and then biting her as she fled his Manhattan apartment, police sources said.
Cruz Rivera, 30, didn’t enter a plea at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, where Judge Suzanne Adams freed him without bail Wednesday.
The incident unfolded when Cruz’s former flame, Meghan Burke, 26, dropped by his West 175th Street apartment at around 5 p.m. Tuesday to pick up some of her things following their split, the sources said.
Once she was inside, Cruz allegedly pounced on her, throwing her onto a bed, pinning her there from behind in a chokehold and nearly causing her to pass out.
Cruz’s male roommate said he walked into the apartment to discover the two brawling on the floor. He called 911.
“Honestly, I got home and they were wrestling,” said the roommate. “I told them I was gonna call the police if they don’t chill the f--k out.”
Burke escaped, but Cruz allegedly bit her on the right hand and right leg as she struggled to break free from him, sources said.
Responding cops arrested Cruz at the scene.
Geraldo Rivera called attorney and former Fox News commentator Arthur Aidala to rep his son.
“I know Geraldo is very, very upset about this,” Aidala told The Post. “Obviously, the fact that his father reached out to me shows he is supporting his son, but he is quite troubled by the accusations of domestic violence.”
Police sources said Cruz previously abused Burke but she broke up with him rather than report it.
Aidala claimed that the split was “amicable” and that Burke does not want to press charges.
Since Cruz’s arrest, Burke has texted him, “I love you” and “I’m sorry about all this,” Aidala said.
Geraldo did not respond to requests for comment.