Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer, a former standout at Georgia Tech and Kell High, was arrested on domestic violence, aggravated assault charges today, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Dwyer, 25, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.
He was immediately deactivated by the NFL team.
“We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by the Phoenix police and are cooperating fully,” the Cardinals said in a statement release on their verified twitter account. “Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities. We will continue to closely monitor this as it develops and evaluate additional information as it become available.”
The incidents involved a 27-year-old female and an 18-month old child. The incidents occurred on July 21 and July 22.
Dwyer, who played at Georgia Tech from 2007-09, is in his fifth season in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him out of Tech, and he signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in March.
“On September 17, 2014 detectives from the Phoenix Police Department’s Family Investigations Bureau arrested Jonathan A. Dwyer on allegations of aggravated assault for two separate incidents that are alleged to have occurred in late July,” according to the Phoenix police department. “The incidents are alleged to have occurred at their home in southeast Phoenix on July 21, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and July 22, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.. Shortly after the incidents occurred the victim left the state with their child.
“A report was made with the Phoenix Police Department on September 11, 2014 and investigators have been seeking out-of-state medical records and conducting interviews with witnesses. Investigators developed probable cause and arrested Jonathan Dwyer in Tempe. He was interviewed by detectives and has admitted to the incidents however, denied any physical assaults. A search warrant is also being served at his residence.”
Dwyer’s arrests comes at a time when domestic violence cases have shaken the NFL, eroding fans and corporate trust and some believe threatened the job of commissioner Roger Goodell.
The incident closely follows the cases of running back Ray Rice, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy and a child abuse case involving Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.
While the Cardinals have been proactive, the San Francisco 49ers have continue to allow Ray McDonald play after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.
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