49ers’ Ray McDonald Arrested: Pregnant Woman Shows Bruises to Police, Bail Denied
San Francisco 49ers DL Ray McDonald was arrested on allegations of felony domestic violence on Sunday morning, just days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell announced that players accused of domestic violence would face harsher penalties. KNTV reporter Damon Trujilo tweeted on Sunday that McDonald’s alleged victim is pregnant.
Sources: McDonald alleged victim pregnant
— Damian Trujillo (@newsdamian) August 31, 2014
According to KTVU News, McDonald was with other 49ers team members when Palo Alto police entered his home at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday morning. The 6’3″ 290 lb. defensive lineman was reportedly arrested on charges that he had inflicted injury “on a spouse or cohabitant” in the house and formerly booked at the police station at 5:30 a.m.
The Sacramento Bee reports that Ray McDonald, 29, was having a birthday party at his home that continued on into the early morning hours. When police arrived, the victim showed police that she was bruised by the 49ers player.
Here is the booking info for #49ers DT Ray McDonald, who was arrested this morning pic.twitter.com/XMbpoHxxyk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2014
The Santa Clara County Department of Corrections has yet to set bail for McDonald and there is no word if he will be released on Sunday, or held over until the court opens on Tuesday morning. His booking info, pictured in NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport’s tweet, indicate that bail is not allowed. However, Legal Expert Steven Clark tells KNTV that if McDonald is released today, the bail would be set at $50k bail and a “no contact” would be filed.
The NFL’s new domestic violence policy states that players accused will get a minimum six day suspension without pay. However, there is a possibility that the player could be disciplined further if “aggravating circumstances such as the presence or use of a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child.” A second offense would banish the accused player from the league, with a petition for reinstatement allowed after one year.
According to USA Today, 77 NFL players have been involved or charged in 85 domestic violence incidents since January 200. Six players were cut by their teams and another six were suspended for at least one game each. Recent changes to the policy up the suspension time to a minimum of six days, something that will likely happen to 49ers player Ray McDonald.
This isn’t McDonald’s first brush with the law, although it is reportedly his first arrest for domestic violence issues. Yahoo Sports reports that the 49ers defensive lineman was arrested in 2010 for an outstanding warrant related to a DUI arrest in June of that year. McDonald was arrested by a California Highway Patrol office on suspicion of driving under the influence after the office caught him speeding on Interstate Highway 280.
