Ray Rice Arrested In Atlantic City After Altercation With Fiancee
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Ravens star running back Ray Rice and his fiancée face charges after an incident inside an Atlantic City casino.
Investigative reporter Mike Hellgren reports from Atlantic City with more on this case.
The entire altercation was caught on video, and Atlantic City police are reviewing those images.
The incident unfolded in the posh $2.4 billion Revel Casino in Atlantic City just before 3 a.m. Saturday.
Inside a club there, Rice and his fiancée Janay Palmer struck each other with their hands, leading casino security to call police. Both of them face simple assault and domestic violence charges.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made no rash judgments.
"I really don't know the situation. And up until, with me, I get all the answers, then that's when we'll make decisions within this organization. Once we get all the information we can get," Newsome said.
Police detained both Rice and Palmer in Atlantic City. They both later left together.
Rice has several attorneys actively working on this case. Michael Diamondstein, one of his attorneys, says that he's hopeful that after an investigation "the matter turns out to be little more than a misunderstanding."
The Ravens released a statement Sunday night.
"We are aware of the Friday night situation with Ray Rice and his fiancée," the Ravens said. "We have spoken with Ray, and know that they returned home together after being detained."
While Rice's lawyer says the altercation was minor, some published reports indicate the fight was more violent.
The police report says neither Rice nor Palmer was injured, and both refused medical treatment.
The incident drew passionate response from sports fans outside the casino.
"If it's true, it's horrendous. Anybody beating up a human being," one man said.
"Shouldn't have anything to do with the team what happens at home," another man said.
"It's a very dangerous lesson to teach children," a woman said.
Rice is very active in the Baltimore community and spoken out against bullying and violence.
"Kind words, getting people to understand that just being nice to somebody can go a long way," Rice once said.
Police have yet to release the surveillance video that captured the altercation.
These charges come at a critical time in Rice's career following a troubling season, leaving questions about his future with the Ravens.
"When I left my office 20 minutes ago, and John [Harbaugh] had probably been there 15 minutes before then, Ray Rice was still a big part of what we plan to do in 2014," Newsome said.
Rice and his fiancée have been together for six years. They both have summons to appear in court.
In 2012, Rice signed a $35 million, 5-year deal with the Ravens. He played at Rutgers University and was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft by the Ravens.
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