Paul Abell/ASSOCIATED PRESS
An Arizona Cardinals running back became the NFL's latest embarrassment after his Wednesday arrest for assaulting his wife and throwing a shoe at their 18-month-old son.
Phoenix police nabbed Jonathan Dwyer, 25, a five-year player who came over this season from Pittsburgh, on charges of aggravated assault stemming from separate incidents in July.
Both incidents occurred at Dwyer's home in southeast Phoenix. The 27-year-old wife, Kayla, fled the state with their child, said Sgt. Trent Crump.
Police said Dwyer hit his wife, causing a fracture. It was not immediately clear if the shoe hit their baby, Jonathan Jr.
Officers went to Dwyer's home on July 21 after neighbors reported a domestic disturbance. His wife brushed cops off, but later told detectives Dwyer was there when authorities were looking for him, but hid in a bathroom until police left.
The following day, Dwyer snatched a cell phone from his wife's hand and threw it from the second floor of their home to prevent her from calling the cops, Crump said.
Dwyer is also accused of sending his wife text messages threatening to harm himself if she reported the assaults.
Kathy Willens/AP
Detectives were seeking out-of-state medical records and interviewing Dwyer's neighbors to bolster the case.
Dwyer has denied the charges, police said.
The Cardinals deactivated him on Wednesday.
'We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully,' the Cardinals said in a statement. 'Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities.'
Also on Wednesday, attorney Gloria Allred resurrected old accusations against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, saying he didn't do enough when Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall was accused of abusing his former girlfriend in 2007.
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