BEREA, Ohio — The woman who filed an assault complaint against Cleveland Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller said during a 911 emergency call that “he tried to strangle me.”
Moeller has been suspended indefinitely by the team while the city’s prosecutor investigates. Prosecutor Jim Walters said his review could take “a number of days.”
On Tuesday, police released a report and the 911 audiotape. According to the report, police were called to a local residence Saturday night concerning a woman who said she had been assaulted. Moeller’s name was redacted from the document.
Police spoke to both parties and got “conflicting stories.” The report said no injuries were observed by officers, and the woman was taken to a hotel at her request.
Later, the woman contacted police to say she was injured and wanted to press charges, the report said. She signed an assault complaint before changing her mind. Police informed her the initial statement would be sent to the prosecutor’s office for review. Moeller was not arrested.
Moeller, in his second season with the team, was suspended for two games in 2011 and fined $47,000 by the NFL for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. The 51-year-old assistant joined Mike Pettine’s staff after six years with the Baltimore Ravens. When he was suspended, Moeller had three other alcohol-related arrests in a four-year span.
On the 911 call, the woman identifies herself as “Sandy” and said she lives in Maryland. She identifies her attacker as Moeller and “he tried to strangle me and beat me up.” She initially says she is Moeller’s fiancée, “not anymore though.” She also told the dispatcher Moeller had been violent before.
“I hate to do this to him,” she says. “But you know what? I’m glad I made it out of there in time.”
Moeller was suspended Monday by the Browns, who are taking the allegations “very seriously.” The club added in its statement that it is now “best for the team and for Andy to take time away from the organization to focus on his personal matters.”
Walters said that since this is an ongoing investigation and no charges have been filed, “no further information from the police report and no further investigative material will be released.”
Pettine said assistant line coach George DeLeone will fill in for Moeller. The Browns open the season Sunday at the New York Jets.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SInow