Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault and possession of crystal methamphetamine, following incidents in July where he allegedly head-butted his wife, breaking her nose, and punched her in the face. The arrest occurred on Wednesday at the Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe, Arizona.
According to police reports, the first altercation took place on July 21 when Dwyer attempted to kiss and undress his wife, who refused. He then head-butted her, causing a broken nose. Police responded to a call but did not make an arrest after Dwyer hid in a bathroom and his wife denied the assault, fearing Dwyer would kill himself. The next day, Dwyer punched his wife with a closed fist and threw a shoe at their 17-month-old son, who was not injured. He also threw her phone from the second story as she tried to call police.
Dwyer was released on a $25,000 bond after a brief court appearance. He has been deactivated by the Cardinals and placed on the reserve/non-football illness list. Sources indicate he is undergoing mental evaluation due to suicidal threats mentioned in police documents. The NFL will review the case under its personal-conduct policy.
Dwyer's wife left Arizona after the incidents but came forward after receiving suicidal text messages from Dwyer, including a photo of a knife. During his police interview, Dwyer admitted to hiding in the bathroom and sending the knife photo, but denied assaulting his wife, claiming she bit his lip during the disputes. He stated he never hurt his son.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of the NFL's handling of domestic violence cases, following incidents involving players Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and Greg Hardy. The Cardinals have re-signed running back Jason Parmele to replace Dwyer on the roster.
