Panthers’ DE Hardy released from jail on $17K bond

From a Carolina Panthers jersey to a jail jumpsuit, defensive end Greg Hardy spent Tuesday night behind bars, accused of assaulting his girlfriend.               

Eyewitness News first confirmed and reported his arrest Tuesday.

WSOC-TV first reported the arrest on Twitter.


Hardy has been charged with assault on a female and communicating threats.

The arrest warrant accuses Hardy of "grabbing victim and throwing her to the floor, throwing into a bathtub, slamming her against a futon, and strangling her."

He was in court on Wednesday for his first appearance. Hardy's attorney said the woman caused the problems in the domestic incident, citing that she would not leave his apartment.

Both Hardy and the victim were intoxicated at the time of the incident. Hardy's attorney told the judge the victim attacked him.

LISTEN: Greg Hardy calls 911
LISTEN: Nearly residents call 911
LISTEN: Police radio dispatch


The victim's attorney said she has injuries "from head to toe."

The judge expressed concerned for her safety and gave Hardy a $15,000 bond for assault on a female and $2,000 for communicating threats.

The judge also ordered Hardy to attend three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week.

Hardy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was also in court Wednesday for his client's appearance.

According to a domestic violence protective order that Channel 9 obtained, the victim stated that "Greg Hardy attacked me in his apartment. Hardy picked me up and threw me into the tile tub area in his bathroom. I have bruises from head to toe, including my head, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, elbow and feet. Hardy pulled me from the tub by my hair, screaming at me that he was going to kill me, break my arms and other threats that I completely believe. He drug me across the bathroom and out into the bedroom. Hardy choked me with both hands around my throat while I was lying on the floor. Hardy picked me up over his head and threw me onto a couch covered in assault rifles and/or shotguns. I landed on those weapons. Hardy bragged that all of those assault rifles were loaded. Landing on those weapons bruised my neck and back. Hardy screamed for his administrative assistant (Sammy Curtis) to come into the room and hold me down. Hardy and Curtis then took me into the living room area. I wasn't nearly strong or fast enough to escape. I begged them to let me go and I wouldn't tell anyone what he did. They took me out into the hall, pushed me down and went back inside his apartment. I crawled to the elevator and ran into CMPD."

Hardy's arrest comes one day before a Men for Change breakfast sponsored by Safe Alliance, Inc. at Bank of America Stadium.

The event raises awareness about domestic violence.

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It was scheduled before Hardy's arrest.

Hardy got into a fight with his 24-year-old girlfriend at an uptown apartment on North Tryon Street across from the Belk Theater around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report.

Police haven't said what the fight was about, but according to a report, Hardy's girlfriend, who Channel 9 is not identifying, suffered scratches and bruises but she didn't go to the hospital, according to the report.

The report also said the two had been in a relationship since last September.

"We are very disappointed to learn of the allegations involving Greg and are concerned for all parties as we continue to investigate," a representative for the Panthers said in a statement.

Hardy, nicknamed "The Kraken," was drafted by Carolina in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and played his college ball at Ole Miss.

Hardy signed a franchise tag tender with the Carolina Panthers in March.  He will make $13.1 million next season if he doesn't sign a long-term extension before July 15.

911 calls released

It was Hardy who was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend but 911 calls released to Channel 9 showed two different stories about what happened that night.

Hardy called 911 and claimed he was the victim. Hardy talked to a dispatcher for more than four minutes before police arrived.  He said he was the one who was being attacked.

"She hit me in the face, twice," said Hardy. "I'm trying to stay away from her. Please, send someone to help me."

The 6 foot 4 inches tall, 290-pound defensive end told a dispatcher the woman "refused to leave his apartment" and was "swinging her fists and throwing her heels" and "breaking glass."

"I can't walk through my kitchen," he said during the 911 call. "There is glass. She broke glass."

There was another call made to 911 before police were able to respond to Hardy's apartment. The call told a different story.

A woman claimed to have witnessed Hardy attacking Holder.

"Some girl is getting her (expletive) beat upstairs! I heard and saw it."

But a man who was also on the call with the woman, quickly disputed her claim and told the dispatcher that woman was drunk.

"She went from saying that she heard it to she saw it," he said.

Ultimately, it was Hardy who was arrested.

Channel 9 was there when he bonded out of jail Wednesday.  He wouldn't share his side of the story.

The accuser's account of what happened was detailed in a protective order obtained by Channel 9.

It read in part, "Greg Hardy attacked me in his apartment.  He choked me.  I had injuries to my head, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, elbow and feet."

A judge ordered Hardy have no contact with the accuser as the investigation continues.