Steelers running back Chris Rainey was arrested this morning in Gainesville, Fla., on charges of slapping his girlfriend in the face during an argument over a cell phone.
According to Matt Watts of the Miami Herald, Rainey was charged with one misdemenaor count of simple battery (dating violence). Rainey remains in custody awaiting his first court appearance.
According to a Gainesville Police spokesman, a 911 call was placed by witnesses who reported an argument between Gainey and his girlfriend, after she took his cell phone and got into his roommate’s car trying to get away from him.
According to the police report, witnesses said Rainey went to the passenger door of the car and pulled the woman out of the car, slapping her in the face. They both fell to the ground, then he chased her to try to get the phone back, grabbing her purse and causing both to fall again.
Neither the woman nor Rainey had any reported injuries.
Sadly, the dawn of the offseason (for 24 teams) means more police blotter stories like this one are coming, as players are outside the controlled environments of their teams.