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Johnny Manziel and Girlfriend Questioned and Released by Police after Argument Turns Physical http://www.people.com/article/cleveland-browns-quarterback-johnny-manziel-pulled-over-alleged-domestic-incident
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SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2015 11:45 AM EDT
Johnny Manziel and Girlfriend Questioned and Released by Police after Argument Turns Physical
Johnny Manziel and Girlfriend Questioned and Released by Police after Argument Turns Physical
Johnny Manziel
SCOTT BOEHM/AP
BY ADAM CARLSON AND NAJA RAYNE
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, were questioned by Ohio police Monday night after witnesses reported an argument between them that appeared to turn physical, with Manziel restraining Crowley as she attempted to exit the vehicle, according to a police report obtained by Deadspin, TMZ and newsnet5.
Both Manziel and Crowley were released and no charges were filed, following a roughly 25-minute investigation by Avon police, according to the report.
"Based upon the statements of Mr. Manziel and Ms. Crowley, their relationship status, the lack of physical evidence, with the exception to Ms. Crowley’s left wrist, Ms. Crowley’s level of intoxication, the inconsistencies of Ms. Crowley’s statements ranging from whether Mr. Manziel was physically abusive towards her or not, and neither party wishing to pursue charges, no arrest was made," according to the report.
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Manziel told officers at the scene that he and Crowley were returning from Cleveland, where they had been drinking earlier that day, and had begun to argue, according to the report – Manziel said he had wanted to invite a friend along to see a movie in the city, upsetting Crowley, and on the ride back she "accused him of 'driving bad,' " and then threw his wallet out of the window.
Manziel, 22, told police that Crowley, 23, tried to leave the car after he had parked it to look for his wallet, and that he tried to "to grab her arm to keep her from 'riding' out of the car," according to the report.
Asked if he had struck, punched or pulled the hair of Crowley, Manziel said, "NO," according to the report.
In her interview at the scene, Crowley confirmed having thrown Manziel's wallet out of the car window because she said Manziel would not give her back her cell phone, which she wanted "so that she could call her parents for help," according to the report.
Asked to clarify by police, she said she wanted to get back to Texas, where she is a rising college senior, according to the report.
Both Manziel and Crowley confirmed they had been living together for two months.
Though she told police Manziel "was fine," when asked if she was fearful of him or if she thought he could do her physical harm, she also told police at the scene that he pushed her head against the car window and hit her "a couple times" in the car, according to the report.
Crowley "was adamant that she did not want to pursue charges ... She kept stating that she just wanted her phone and to return to Texas," according to the report.
Crowley appeared intoxicated at the scene, according to the report, including having slurred speech and difficulty focusing on the police questions.
Police said there was the "slight" smell of alcohol on Manziel's breath but he exhibited no other signs of intoxication, according to the report.
Officers observed "a small fresh abrasion" on Crowley's left arm, on the top of her wrist, which "appeared to be a friction burn with no blood seen," according to the report. Officers observed no other signs of injury.
Police also spoke with two witnesses, Jackie Clark and Lauren Clarke, who made the two separate 911 calls, according to the report.
Clarke said she saw Manziel pulling on Crowley's wrist as Crowley tried to leave the parked car, according to the report.
Clark said she saw Manziel hold Crowley back from exiting the car while it was still in motion, as it was slowing and apparently preparing to stop, according to the report.
Clark said it appeared his "arm and elbow were around" Crowley's neck, "pulling her inside the car," according to the report.
Clark told police she wasn't sure if what she saw was aggressive or an attempt to keep Crowley inside the moving vehicle, according to the report.
At one point during the interviews, fellow Browns player Paul Kruger drove up and attempted to speak with Manziel, according to the report. Crowley "became more upset," according to the report, and said, "He doesn't need to be here!"
Officers asked Kruger to return to his vehicle, which he did, according to the report.
At a later point in the investigation, according to the report, Crowley told police, "I didn't do s--- and f--- this!"
While walking on the side of the road, she said, "I didn't do anything wrong and my dad's a lawyer," according to the report.
Police told her to stay in the patrol vehicle or she would be arrested for disorderly conduct, according to the report.
At the end of the investigation, Crowley declined a ride from police to another location, was told she could not walk away because she was too intoxicated and then said she was okay leaving with Manziel and they drove away, according to the report.
Manziel took to Twitter Friday to explain the situation to fans.
"Colleen and I got into a dumb public argument on the way home Monday afternoon. It probably looked more interesting than it was and I know I would stop and check if I saw a couple arguing on the side of the road," he wrote.
"It was embarrassing but not serious and when we talked to the police and they realized everything was alright and I was sober, we went home together and everything was fine."
Crowley released her own statement on Instagram Friday, with the caption, "Before things get blown out of proportion."
In a statement to PEOPLE, Browns' general manager Ray Farmer said, "We were aware of the situation. It is a matter that we take seriously and have expressed our concerns to Johnny directly.
"Those conversations will remain private and we will refrain from further comment at this time."
In April, Manziel was released from rehab after more than two months of unspecified treatment, though the facility "specializes in drug and alcohol rehabilitation," according to ESPN.
According to ESPN, the NFL is also expected to review the Monday incident to determine if discipline is necessary.
Manziel's status is "unchanged" for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, a team spokesman tells PEOPLE.
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