Prosecutors on Wednesday charged former Seattle Seahawks offensive leader Chad Wheeler with assault for first-degree domestic violence and illegal domestic violence jail after assaulting his girlfriend over the weekend. Both charges are considered felony offenses.
Wheeler was also charged with resisting arrest, a felony under Washington state law, according to a spokesman for the King County Prosecutor’s Office in Washington state.
Wheeler was admitted to King County Jail and released on $ 400,000 bail Tuesday, according to prison records. A judge ordered Wheeler to have no contact with the victim and to hand over any weapons, according to officials.
The charges come hours after the Seahawks issued one statement saying Wheeler is a free agent and that he is “no longer part of the team.” According to the NFL’s official list of transactions, the Seahawks withdrew Wheeler from the team on Wednesday.
The team encouraged him to seek help and share information for victims of domestic violence and those suffering from mental health issues.
“The Seahawks are saddened by the details appearing against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence,” the team said. “Our thoughts and our support are on the victim.”
Danny Karnik / AP
Prosecutors said in a case that Wheeler allegedly attacked and strangled the victim in her room on Jan. 22, allegedly knocking her unconscious twice and killing her twice.
According to a police report, officers responded to a domestic dispute in a Kent City apartment after Wheeler’s girlfriend called 911 and told the carrier they were “killing her.” When they arrived, she was shouting from inside, prompting officers to force entry into the house, according to the report.
Wheeler initially resisted arrest before officers arrested him, according to the report. Her girlfriend was hospitalized after officers found her with her face covered in blood and her left arm limping against her body, according to the report.
The woman alleged that Wheeler strangled her and at one point used one of her hands and “crushed” her against her nose and mouth to “prevent her from breathing,” according to the report. He started fighting, but lost consciousness, according to the report. When he woke up, Wheeler supposedly asked, “Wow are you alive?” – and ran to the bathroom and started calling 911, according to the report.
The report lists the woman 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 145 pounds and Wheeler 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 310 pounds.
Officers arrived shortly after Wheeler chose the bathroom lock and apologized to the woman, according to the report. The woman alleged that Wheeler was suffering from bipolar disorder and was taking medication, but that he had not been taking it recently, according to the report, and said he told police the couple had been out for six months. “notable problems”.
Prosecutors asked the court to place Wheeler on the home’s electronic detection and that the ankle control device be equipped with GPS. His next court appointment will be on February 9th.
Wheeler went unwritten in 2017, but signed with the New York Giants and played in 19 of 27 games. He was released by the team before the 2019 season and then signed with the Seahawks training squad. He didn’t see any action on the field that year, but he played five games last season.
Highlights from the NFL reacted to the news of Wheeler’s arrest and demanded the league take action.
The offensive attack by Pittsburgh Steelers, Zach Banner, who was Wheeler’s roommate in college, he tweeted that Wheeler is “completely different” from the person he knew. “What she did was heartbreaking and I will never forgive … My thoughts and prayers are directed at the victim. She and her health should be the (top) priority.”