(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
According to a copy of the criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY Sports, a woman who identified herself as Peppers’ girlfriend told police in Braintree, Massachusetts, that Peppers ‘smashed my head against the wall’ and choked her ‘at least six times’ during an argument at his apartment early Saturday morning. She also told police that the 29-year-old safety pushed her down a set of stairs while trying to get her to leave the apartment.
In subsequent statements to police, Peppers denied ‘putting his hands’ on the woman, including pushing her or putting his hands around her neck. He also told police that she fell down the stairs because she was intoxicated, according to the criminal complaint. (USA TODAY Sports does not identify victims of alleged domestic violence without their permission.)
Peppers has been charged with felony counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and strangulation, as well a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a family/household member.
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Police also charged him with misdemeanor possession of cocaine after finding a small bag of white powder in his wallet during the arrest. When asked to identify the powder, Peppers told police ‘it is cocaine,’ according to the criminal complaint.
Peppers pleaded not guilty during an appearance in Quincy District Court on Monday morning, where a judge ordered him to have no contact with the woman and set his bail at $2,500. His next court date is Nov. 22.
Though the eighth-year safety did not speak to local reporters while leaving the courthouse, his attorney Marc Brofsky said they have obtained evidence, including video, that ‘completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story.’
‘I expect my client to be fully exonerated,’ Brofsky said, according to video of the exchange posted on social media by The Boston Herald.
Peppers is in his third season with New England after playing three years with the New York Giants and two with the Cleveland Browns. He was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a shoulder injury but was officially ruled out Saturday.
‘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,’ the Patriots said in a statement.
In a radio interview with WEEI in Boston, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said Peppers called him Saturday morning to inform him about the arrest.
‘I knew what was going on,’ Mayo said. ‘We’ve informed the NFL what was going on, and we’re still gathering information.’
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy wrote in an email that the league is aware of the matter and has been in contact with the Patriots but declined further comment.
