Arizona Cardinals’ running back Jonathan Dwyer has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, police have said.
Jonathan Dwyer, 25, facing charges of aggravated assault and preventing someone from calling 911, has been suspended from the team.
The charges are from two altercations at his home in July involving a woman and an 18-month-old child.
Jonathan Dwyer’s arrest comes after a recent spate of high profile assault incidents involving American football players.
Earlier this month Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely after a video emerged of him knocking out his then-fiancée.
After Ray Rice was suspended, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child-abuse charges.
Critics have been calling on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to step down after Ray Rice initially received just a two-game ban for his assault.
Earlier this week the league announced it is hiring four women as advisers on domestic violence.
Across the country, outrage has been palpable.
Many fans have announced they are turning their backs on the NFL.
Fantasy leagues have been disbanded.
Even the league’s own television outlets, such as Fox, CBS and ESPN, have been sharply critical.
One of the counts against Jonathan Dwyer was “aggravated assault causing a fracture” against the 27-year-old woman.
Another count was for aggravated assault against a minor, said Phoenix Police Sergeant Trent Crump.
Sergeant Trent Crump said police were called to Dwyer’s home on July 21 after neighbors reported a row.
They discussed the incident with the woman, but did not talk to Jonathan Dwyer, who was hiding in the home, said Sergeant Trent Crump.
The second physical altercation happened at Jonathan Dwyer’s home the following day.
After the woman was assaulted, Jonathan Dwyer took a shoe and threw it at the couple’s 18-month-old child, said the police officer.
The victim and the child have subsequent “fled the state” because of safety concerns, he added.
The Cardinals reacted to the arrest by announcing that Jonathan Dwyer has been suspended for this week’s games against the 49ers.
“We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully,” the team said in a statement.
“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 becomes available.”
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