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Pittsburgh Steelers' Davenport Charged In Domestic Case

Running Back Faces Charges In Cleveland

POSTED: 9:33 pm EDT October 11, 2007
UPDATED: 4:25 pm EDT October 12, 2007

Cleveland police have charged Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najeh Davenport in a domestic dispute over a child custody matter.

Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute involving Davenport, 29, and Anita Person, 27, outside a home on East 115th Street on Oct. 4.

An argument started between Davenport and Person as Davenport was picking up their 5-year-old child for the weekend, police said.

According to police, Person said Davenport was picking up the child for a court-approved visit and threatened to keep him. She said Davenport drove off as she unbuckled the child's seat belt and then slapped and choked her and slammed her to the ground while she held the boy.

According to Davenport, Person became upset over his plans to seek custody. According to Davenport, she climbed into the back seat of the moving car, kneeled on his 2-year-old son and grabbed the 5-year-old, then scratched Davenport's face outside the car.

Separate 911 calls were made, including one by Davenport, and some witnesses said the situation escalated to violence between Davenport and Person. (Hear The 911 Call)

"When I left with my son in my car, she jumped in the car to try and take him back, but she tried to jump over my son, my youngest son," Davenport said during his initial call to 911. "She almost pulled him out of the car while we were a moving car."

Person also dialed 911 but with a different account.

"I got in the car and went down the street with the car door open," she told 911. "And we finally stopped, and he started grabbing me and beating me, punching me, choking me."

After speaking with witnesses and investigating for about a week, police said Thursday night that Davenport was being charged with domestic violence, endangering children and unlawful restraint.

Davenport's attorney, Robert Del Greco, said the matter has his client very frustrated.

"I think so," said Del Greco. "I think that's why he authorized me to make a statement on his behalf. I think he's disappointed. I think he's disturbed over it."

Police are allowing Davenport to turn himself in at Cleveland Municipal Court.


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