Arizona Cardinals' running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested Wednesday afternoon on charges of domestic violence.
On Wednesday afternoon the National Football League deactivated yet another running back due to charges of domestic violence. Jonathan Dwyer, of the Arizona Cardinals, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona for two alleged cases of aggravated assault that occurred back in July, according to the NFL.
“Dwyer is being 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 and one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault,” according to the NFL. The total of five charges have led to the deactivation of Dwyer indefinitely.
25-year-old Dwyer is married and father to a child of 18 months. The two cases of aggravated assault involved his wife and child. According to the Phoenix Police Department, the events supposedly transpired July 21 and July 22. Dwyer’s wife and child fled Arizona as a result of the incidents.
Phoenix police went to the Cardinals’ practice Wednesday afternoon to question Dwyer in order to further their investigation into the allegations.
The Cardinals stated, “We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully. 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.”
Dwyer’s allegations pile on further tension for the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell. Recent legal issues regarding NFL players Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, who are both charged with similar crimes, brought the NFL under much scrutiny in regards to domestic violence and the punishments it gave the players.
The Phoenix Police are currently investigating the past incidents involving Dwyer and his family. According to the NFL, “Investigators are seeking out-of-state medical records and conducting interviews with witnesses.”
“Dwyer was interviewed and admitted to the incidents; however he denied any physical assaults.”
