FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Former football star Warren Sapp was arrested Saturday following an alleged domestic violence incident at a Miami Beach hotel, according to The Associated Press.
Miami Beach police spokesman Juan Sanchez says Sapp has been charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. The former NFL defensive end is
expected to appear before a Miami-Dade County judge Sunday.
According to plice, the incident
occurred early Saturday morning at the Shore Club hotel. The domestic violence allegation was reported around noon
Saturday and
detectives interviewed Sapp later that day.
The victim had a swollen knee and bruises on her neck. She told detectives that she was partying with Sapp
and her friends at the hotel and asked for his room key when she grew
tired. Sapp reportedly woke up the victim a few hours later and they
started to argue. She told investigators that Sapp started to choke her
and pushed her down on a couch.
As the argument escalated, Sapp grabbed the woman by her shirt and neck
and threw her down again.
Sapp told investigators that he let the woman stay in his room but asked
her to leave a few hours later. He told police that the woman fell on
her leg when he tried to help her get off a couch.
NFL Network spokesman Dennis Johnson told The AP that Sapp — who is an analyst for the network — would not be part of the Super Bowl coverage for Sunday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.
Sapp, a former defensive tackle, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his NFL career. He was also once a contestant on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."