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Arrest report: Droughns threw his wife out door
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
Browns running back Reuben Droughns threw his wife Kellie three times, including once to the ground and then once out the door after she said she wanted a divorce, according to a sheriff's report.
Droughns was released on $2,500 bail Thursday after being charged with one count of assault and two counts of harassment in a domestic violence incident. All three charges are misdemeanors. Droughns, 27, surrendered to police on Wednesday and spent the night in jail in Colo- rado.
Droughns' attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said Kellie "has made repeated demands to get the charges dropped."
According to the arrest report, Droughns and Kellie had an argument May 12 at about 10:30 p.m. in the bedroom of their suburban Denver home in Centennial, Colo. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation when Droughns grabbed Kellie and threw her to the ground. She got up, and Droughns grabbed her by the waist and threw her on the bed.
She told him she wanted a divorce. He then put her on his shoulders and carried her to the front door, forcefully and without consent, the report said. As he was trying to throw her out the door, she tried to stop him by grabbing the doorframe. She struck her right forearm on the frame, causing pain.
Droughns threw her outside, closed the door and locked it. He eventually let her back in but left the house himself, taking her wedding ring, credit cards and her cash. She called her mother in Texas, who called the sheriff's office to report the incident.
When officers arrived at the scene, Droughns was not there, but they took the report from Kellie. Steinberg said there was an eyewitness on the premises at the time of the alleged incident but that investigators have failed to interview that witness.
He also said it's reflected in the original police report that Kellie did not want charges to be filed. That report has been unavailable.
Droughns flew to Cleveland the following day to explain the situation to Browns coach Romeo Crennel. His version of the night's events are different from his wife's, a source said, including that his wife was extremely upset and that he was trying to restrain her. Steinberg said there's no evidence that Droughns hit or struck Kellie and that the two are together and doing fine. They also have a 1-year-old daughter, McKen- zie.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL is aware of the situation, "and it will be reviewed under the terms of the personal conduct policy."
According to that policy, Droughns could receive a fine, suspension without pay and/or banishment from the league, if convicted. The sanctions are at the discretion of the commissioner. Because of his arrest, he'll automatically be required to undergo a clinical evaluation and possibly counseling.
A background check on Droughns revealed no other instances of domestic violence. Neither Steinberg, Droughns nor his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, could be reached Friday.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
