Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was stopped by police last Monday night for driving recklessly during an argument with his girlfriend -- she accused the football player of getting physical during the altercation, police reported. Now, the NFL is investigating the incident.
"It is standard procedure to look into any incident that is a potential violation of our personal conduct policy," an NFL spokesman said Tuesday.
Witnesses called police in Avon, Ohio, after seeing Manziel and his girlfriend, TCU student Colleen Crowley, arguing in his car. Manziel — who has sought treatment for alcohol abuse in the past — told police that they had been drinking in Cleveland earlier in the day with plans to see a movie, but that when he wanted to pick up a friend, she became upset and want to go home in Avon.
According to a police report, Manziel said he had Crowley's phone on his lap and was using it to control the music during the drive when she "began accusing him of 'driving bad.'"
He then stated that Ms. Crowley grabbed his wallet, which was in the center divider and threw it out of the window. Mr. Manziel then stopped his vehicle and turned around in order to look for the wallet.
After parking, he stated that "She did try to get out of the car."
He then admitted to "trying to grab her arm to keep her from 'riding' out of the car".
He was asked if at any point there was any striking, punching or pulling of hair, in which Mr. Manziel responded, "NO."
According to the report, Crowley told police "[t]he argument in Avon progressed when she asked for her cell phone and when Mr. Manziel wouldn't give it back to her."
Crowley admitted to throwing the wallet out the window, telling officers she wanted her cell phone back so that she "could call her parents for help [...] to get her back to Texas," the report states.
Crowley also accused Manziel of pushing her head against the glass and hitting her "a couple times in the car." Officers did note a "small abrasion" on her wrist, which was determined to be as a result of Manziel trying to keep her inside the car.
During the stop, officers determined that Crowley was intoxicated, but, despite noting the odor of alcohol, cleared Manziel, who reported having "two alcoholic drinks several hours prior."
No arrests were made, and the couple was free to leave after talking to police for just under 40 minutes. Crowley told officers she "felt fine leaving with Manziel," according to the police report.
A witness, Jackie Clarke, gave a statement to police after Manziel had left the scene:
She advised that she was traveling in the high speed lane of westbound IR 90, east of Nagel Road, believed to be in the City of Westlake. Suddenly a white Nissan passed her on her left side, utilizing the left hand berm, at what she thought was around 90 MPH.
As they entered into the City of Avon, the vehicle cut over several lanes of travel and began to exit at Nagel Road.
As Ms. Clark was passing the slowing Nissan, she observed what appeared to be a white female passenger trying to open her door, with the white male driver holding her back. She described it appeared the driver's arm and elbow were around the neck of the female pulling her inside the car.
In a statement to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Browns General Manager Ray Farmer said:
We were aware of the situation. It is a matter that we take seriously and have expressed our concerns to Johnny directly.
Those conversations will remain private and we will refrain from further comment at this time.
Manziel voluntarily entered rehab for alcohol abuse in January and was discharged in April.