Content Warning: This story contains depictions of domestic violence.
New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested Saturday in Braintree, Mass after allegedly choking his girlfriend and pushing her down a flight of stairs.
According to a police report viewed by Boston 25 News, Peppers was arrested after police were called about a residential disturbance in a home. Peppers’ girlfriend reportedly called police around 4:15 a.m. on Saturday and said that her boyfriend hit her, choked her at least six times, smashed her head against the all, pushed her down the stairs put her outside.
Once the police arrived at the home, they found Peppers and his girlfriend, who has not been named.
“My boyfriend put his hand on my neck and smashed my head against the wall, then he pushed me down the stairs,” she told police via Peter Eliopoulos of WVCB. The report said that she was treated by EMS at the scene for injuries to her head and neck.
Peppers, per the report, told police that an argument started after they had sex. Peppers alleged that his girlfriend tried to have sex with him without a condom, and became angry and argued with him after he refused to do so. He denied putting hands on her, said he asked her to leave, and that she fell down the stairs on her own.
After Peppers was arrested, he was charged with assault and battery, strangulation and possession of a Class “B” substance. According to Boston 25 News, the substance is believed to be cocaine. He was released after posting $2,500 bail and pleaded not guilty at his court appearance Monday morning.
“We have evidence that completely contradicts the victims story and I expect my client to be fully exonerated,” Peppers’ attorney told Boston 25 News, adding that they have video evidence.
The Patriots released a statement regarding Peppers and his ongoing situation.
“We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating,” the team said. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
Head coach Jerod Mayo told the media Monday that Peppers is allowed to be in the building while the Patriots gather more information. He also said that the players have been told about the situation.
“Players need to know about it so we can learn from whatever happened,” Mayo said.
Peppers is due in court next on Nov. 22. It’s unclear if he’ll be available for their game against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Peppers, a team captain, is in his third year with the Patriots this fall. He signed a three-year, $24 million extension earlier this summer. Peppers, who turned 29 on Friday, did not play in the team’s 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He had been ruled out of the game on Saturday after dealing with a shoulder injury all week. Mayo said Peppers informed him of the incident before the game, too.
“He called me that morning. I knew what was going on,” Mayo told sports radio WEEI on Monday, via ESPN. “We’ve informed the NFL what was going on and we’re still gathering information. … I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process.”
