A police officer has been charged with assault after an alleged altercation at a rooming house.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Sunday that Christopher Kerley, a 62-year-old senior constable from Melbourne’s eastern region, had drunk wine on Friday night before allegedly throwing a cup of hot soup into the face of a fellow tenant.

Senior Constable Christopher Kerley. Credit:Luis Ascui

Police said the alleged victim, aged in his 50s, took himself to hospital to treat superficial burns.

Mr Kerley was arrested the following day. A search of his room allegedly uncovered a police baton.

He has since been charged with making threats to kill, intentionally causing injury, assault by kicking, theft, possessing a prohibited weapon, unlawful assault and commiting an indictable offence while on bail.

The officer appeared briefly in court on Sunday and was released on bail on the condition he report to police daily, adhere to a curfew and not consume alcohol.

The matter will return to court next month.