New England Patriots broad receiver Stefon Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery at a courtroom listening to Tuesday. The alleged sufferer within the Dec. 2 incident was his non-public chef, in response to a report taken by police in Dedham, Mass.
By his lawyer, Diggs has denied the allegations. The title of the lady was redacted from the police report.
The chef reported the incident Dec. 16, telling police that she and Diggs had a dispute over pay after he instructed her through textual content that her providers weren’t wanted the week of Nov. 7 and she or he replied that she must be paid for the week.
The girl instructed police that Diggs entered her unlocked bed room in his home and “smacked her throughout the face.” She tried to push him away and he “tried to choke her utilizing the criminal of his elbow round her neck.”
She stated that she had bother respiration and felt like she might have blacked out. “As she tried to pry his arm away, he tightened his grip,” she instructed police.
The girl instructed police she had redness on her higher chest space after the incident occurred however didn’t take images. She returned to Diggs’ home Dec. 9 to retrieve private belongings and he instructed her to talk together with his assistant about getting paid, she instructed police. The assistant instructed her Diggs had requested she signal a non-disclosure settlement, however she refused.
Diggs’ girlfriend is rapper Cardi B, who gave beginning to their son in November. Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar, is just not talked about by title within the police report, though the lady instructed police Dec. 20 that just a few days earlier “she obtained a voice mail and textual content messages from a feminine that she believed to be Diggs girlfriend. Primarily based on these messages, [the alleged victim] believed that Diggs one way or the other knew the police have been contacted. The messages acknowledged one thing to the impact of ‘You don’t must do all this. It’s not that huge of a deal.’”
The girl, who had labored as Diggs’ non-public chef since July, initially didn’t need the police to file fees in opposition to the two-time All-Professional receiver however modified her thoughts Dec. 23.
Diggs’ lawyer David Meier stated in an announcement that his consumer “categorically denies these allegations. They’re unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and have been by no means investigated — as a result of they didn’t happen.
“The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they’re the direct results of an employee-employer monetary dispute that was not resolved to the worker’s satisfaction. Stefon appears to be like ahead to establishing the reality in a courtroom of legislation.”
Meier additionally stated Diggs has made a monetary supply to the lady, telling the choose on the listening to Tuesday, “As we converse, they’re working to come back to an settlement on that.”
In accordance with the police report, Diggs didn’t return calls from investigators and the felony criticism was “based mostly on [the alleged victim’s] assertion.”
Diggs, 32, has been one of many NFL’s prime receivers since starting his profession with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015. He ranks fifth amongst energetic gamers with 939 profession receptions, together with 82 this season for 970 yards.
That is his first season with the Patriots, who’ve clinched the AFC East title and can start the playoffs with a wild card dwelling sport the weekend of Jan. 10. Diggs is within the first yr of a three-year, $69-million contract.
“We assist Stefon,” the Patriots stated in an announcement. “We’ll proceed to collect data and can cooperate totally with the suitable authorities and the NFL as crucial. Out of respect for all events concerned, and on condition that that is an ongoing authorized matter, we can have no additional remark right now.”
Diggs’ arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23. Meier requested the choose Tuesday that the continuing be delayed till March however no ruling was made.
