Cards RB Dwyer arrested, deactivated

Sep 18, 2014 - 1:28 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on multiple assault charges Wednesday and police said his alleged victims included a 27-year-old woman and Dwyer's 18-month old child.

According to a Phoenix police news release, detectives from the department's Family Investigations Bureau arrested Dwyer over allegations of assault in two separate incidents that are alleged to have taken place on consecutive days in July in a residence in southeast Phoenix.

Police do not name the alleged victims but said in the release, "Shortly after the incidents occurred the victim left the state with their child."

The Cardinals deactivated Dwyer for this weekend's game against San Francisco, the latest NFL team forced to make a decision about one of its players over allegations of abuse.

"We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully," the team said in a statement.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities. We will continue to closely monitor this as it develops and evaluate additional information as it becomes available."

Dwyer was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and charged with one count of aggravate assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.

Police said investigators have been seeking out-of-state medical records and conducting interviews with witnesses since a report was made last Thursday. Dwyer was arrested in Tempe, site of the Cardinals' training facility, after investigators developed probable cause.

According to the release, Dwyer has admitted the incidents happened but denied any physical assaults occurred. Police were serving a search warrant at his house.

The NFL beefed up its domestic-violence policy last month following criticism of Commissioner Roger Goodell's initial two-game suspension of star running back Ray Rice, but it's unclear whether Dwyer's case would fall under the new plan calling for a six-week suspension for players and league personnel over a first domestic-violence offense and a lifetime ban for a second.

Rice was later cut by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after video surfaced of him hitting his then-fiancee in the face during an argument inside an Atlantic City casino elevator. The couple has since married and Rice is appealing his suspension.

The case has become a byword, shining a spotlight on similar situations around the league.

The Carolina Panthers said on Wednesday that defensive end Greg Hardy chose to be placed on the exempt list while he awaits trial on charges he assaulted and threatened to kill his girlfriend.

Hardy, who was found guilty by a judge in July, is not allowed to practice or play in games while on the list, but still gets paid. His appeal will be heard by a jury in November.

The decision came hours after the Minnesota Vikings placed star running back Adrian Peterson on the exempt list after he was indicted last week on charges he abused his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.

Dwyer, 25, has appeared in both games for the Cardinals this season with 16 rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the sixth round in 2010 and played his first four seasons with the Steelers, starting six games.