Police in Texas have not charged Johnny Manziel with a crime and consider their cases closed despite his ex-girlfriend alleging the troubled Browns quarterback beat her and threatened to kill them both.
Colleen Crowley told officers Manziel struck her several times, including on the left ear, early Saturday morning in Dallas, according to a report released by Fort Worth police Thursday night. Portions of the report were redacted.
Dallas TV station WFAA reported Manziel also told Crowley “shut up or I’ll kill us both” after forcing her into a car, hitting her and dragging her by the hair. The report cited unnamed sources who said Crowley has told authorities she fears for her safety and has drafted an order of protection to be presented to a Tarrant County district court judge.
Manziel, 23, denied the allegations, telling TMZ.com “it didn’t happen.” Neither his agent, Erik Burkhardt, nor publicist, Denise Michaels, responded to messages seeking comment.
Sgt. Steve Enright said no criminal offense occurred in Fort Worth, so “there is no investigation being conducted” by the city’s police department.
Fort Worth police forwarded their report to Dallas police who said in a statement “investigative efforts to date have not resulted in the filing of a criminal complaint and the incident is determined to be closed.” A source said efforts were made by Dallas police to contact the victim but resulted in no filing of a criminal complaint. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.
In Texas, police have the power to file assault charges against a suspect, even if the victim declines. Still, none were filed against Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M and 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The NFL is investigating the matter under its personal conduct policy and could discipline Manziel, even though he hasn’t been charged.
“Our review of this incident began when it happened,” an NFL spokesman wrote Thursday in an email response. “We are aware of the police report.”
On Oct. 12, Crowley told Avon police Manziel hit her and pushed her head against a car window. However, he wasn’t charged, and the NFL didn’t punish him after investigating the episode.
Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown issued a statement Tuesday in which he condemned Manziel’s continued involvement in off-field incidents and made it clear the team will sever ties with him. The Browns are expected to cut him March 9, when a new league year will afford them the salary-cap space needed to execute the move.
On Thursday, a Browns spokesman said, “we are aware of the report and have nothing to add to our previous statement at this time.”
Crowley, 23, told Fort Worth police Manziel behaved as “if he were on some kind of drugs” as he became aggressive toward her in Hotel ZaZa in Dallas after a group of their friends dispersed. She was also adamant about Manziel not being intoxicated, according to the police report.
They left the hotel, and Crowley told officers Manziel shouted angrily and struck her several times while driving her car back to her apartment in Fort Worth.
According to the police report, Crowley “was somewhat vague on the details of the assault” and “became increasingly uncooperative” as the investigation progressed. Per police, Crowley “did not want to fill out a statement or make a report, and did not want officers to photograph her or any of her injuries.” An ambulance was called, but Crowley was not taken to a hospital.
WFAA reported Manziel parked the car during the trip to the apartment, whereupon Crowley exited the vehicle and attempted to hide in nearby bushes. Manziel grabbed her by the hair to force her back into the car and threatened to kill her and himself later during the car ride, according to the report.
Crowley didn’t report an assault at her apartment in Fort Worth when police asked her if one happened there. She told them she ran in and out of her apartment through the front door to get away from Manziel.
WFAA reported Manziel smashed Crowley’s phone at the apartment. The report says she also told police she feared for her life, so she grabbed a knife in her kitchen and advanced toward Manziel. She said he ran out of the apartment.
When she rushed out of the apartment and to a neighbor’s door to seek help, Manziel fled the area on foot, according to the police report.
When police arrived at about 2 a.m., Crowley expressed concern for Manziel’s well-being. That’s when they searched for him with a helicopter and couldn’t reach him by phone.
Later Saturday, police determined Manziel was safe when they contacted his father, Paul Manziel, by phone. Paul Manziel told an officer his son “was doing fine” and requested that police don’t contact him again without a warrant.
“We’re trying to get our son better,” Paul Manziel told WFAA on Thursday. “We’re not there yet.”
The younger Manziel told TMZ.com, “I’m completely stable. I’m safe and secure.
“I know I’ve been having fun, but I just need to get my body right. I’m 100 percent committed to playing football.”