New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested early Saturday morning on several charges, including assault.
Braintree police responded to reports of a disturbance at a residential location. The caller reported a confrontation between two individuals.
According to the police, following the investigation, Peppers, 29, was taken into custody. He faces charges of assault and battery on an intimate partner, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of cocaine.
A police report states that the victim accused Peppers of slamming her head against a wall and pushing her down the stairs. She also informed dispatchers that he had “choked her at least six times.”
The woman alleged that Peppers became angry when someone called her phone while they were intimate. She claimed he then pushed her down the stairs, grabbed her neck, and threw her head against a wall.
While the victim declined medical assistance, Peppers refuted her claims, stating that she fell down the stairs while under the influence of alcohol. He suggested that she was fabricating the allegations to sabotage his career. Police noted they did not observe signs of intoxication during their interaction with her.
Emergency medical services treated the victim at the scene, but no details regarding her condition were provided.
Peppers appeared in Quincy District Court on Monday for a brief arraignment, where not guilty pleas were entered for all charges. He was mandated to have no contact with the alleged victim.
His attorney remarked in court that Peppers did not oppose this condition, even though there was evidence that raised doubts about the allegations.
Peppers posted a $2,500 bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 22, although his appearance is waived.
Serving as a team captain, Peppers did not participate in the Patriots’ loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday due to a shoulder injury. The New Jersey native is in his third season with New England after previously playing three seasons with the New York Giants and two with the Cleveland Browns.
The Patriots released a statement on Monday morning regarding the incident, saying, “We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating. We will have no further comment at this time.”