Dallas police says it will open an investigation into incident involving Manziel
One day after announcing it had closed its case involving quarterback Johnny Manziel, the Dallas police department issued a statement Friday that said it is now initiating a criminal investigation after receiving a complaint of a domestic violence assault.
Manziel's former girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, who police said was initially uncooperative with the investigation, has given a statement to the Dallas police department and now wants the district attorney to file charges against Manziel, according to WFAA-TV in Dallas.
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Also on Friday, a judge in Fort Worth has granted a protective order against Manziel that had been requested by Crowley, WFAA-TV reported.
A judge in Tarrant County said in court that, "There is reason to believe violence occurred," between Manziel and Crowley, according to WFAA reporter Rebecca Lopez. The protective order requires Manziel to stay at least 500 feet away from Crowley’s home and work for the next two years, and Manziel was also ordered to pay $12,000 in legal fees. The order also prevents Manziel from possessing a gun.
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Crowley told Fort Worth police that Manziel assaulted her at a hotel in Dallas and then in a car while driving to Fort Worth last weekend, and that the quarterback was "on some kind of drugs," according to a police report released Thursday.
The request for a protective order indicates just how serious her issues with Manziel are. The former couple was also involved in a domestic incident in Ohio in October. Manziel was not arrested in that case, which occurred when Manziel was pulled over on an interstate after the couple was seen arguing in his car.
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The Browns issued a statement last weekend expressing disappointment in Manziel, and indicating the team plans to release him this spring. Because of the Browns' salary cap, the team cannot release him before the new league year begins on March 9, even though the waiver wire will officially open on Monday.
The league is also conducting its own investigation into Manziel’s latest incident.
Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about Manziel in his state of the NFL press conference on Friday, and said he would like to help young men in crisis, without specifically addressing Manziel’s case. But Goodell said the focus of the league’s policies are preventative and educational.
"There is a lot of focus on discipline," Goodell said. "We want to prevent this from happening."
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