Jonathan Dwyer charged with aggravated assault

Dwyer, who was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list after his arrest in September, was arraigned Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court and will return to court on Nov. 20.

The charges stem from two incidents on consecutive days in July, during which police say Dwyer assaulted his wife in their Phoenix apartment. Dwyer allegedly head-butted her during an argument, then allegedly punched her the following day. Reports claim that he also threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son, though he faces no charges for crimes against the child.

The events date back to July 21, when Dwyer reportedly head-butted his wife in the face after she refused his sexual advance. The following day, on July 22, he allegedly punched her in the head and threw a shoe at their 1-year-old son.

Aggravated assault is a felony charge, while the misdemeanors include disorderly conduct and criminal damage. A status conference is scheduled for Oct. 6, a conference used by judges to create a time-frame for all pre-trial activities as well as a potential trial date.

The White House told the National Football League to “get a handle” on its string of domestic and child abuse cases, while also on Thursday stating the league needs a zero tolerance policy, per CBS News.

A senior administration official relayed to reporters that recent cases involving NFL players and abuse against women and children are “deeply troubling.” The official goes on, via CBS:

According to police, Dwyer was involved in two alleged incidents, both occurring in Arizona in late July. Both incidents involved Dwyer, a 27-year-old woman and their 18-month-old boy, according to the police. The first happened in the morning on July 21 and the second occurred a day later. The woman and the child reportedly left the state shortly after the second incident.

Dwyer was charged with one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a cell phone during an emergency and one count of assault. Phoenix police have been working on the case since Sept. 11. Dwyer admitted to police the incidents occurred, but denied any physical assaults.