Johnny Manziel: Surveillance Video Obtained By Dallas Police, Part Of Investigation
A surveillance video taken of Johnny Manziel and his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley could decide whether or not charges are filed against the troubled NFL quarterback. According to ESPN, the Dallas Police told reporters on Saturday that the video footage was obtained as part of an ongoing investigation. It’s believed to originate from the Hotel ZaZa in Dallas, Texas.
This is significant because that’s the exact location where Crowley stated that the domestic dispute between herself and Manziel began on January 29.
Court documents detailing the alleged assault feature a statement from Colleen, where she claimed Manziel assaulted her after leaving his hotel room and initially refusing to exit the hotel in his car.
“He grabbed me by my hair and threw me back into the car and got back in himself. He hit me with his open hand on my left ear for jumping out of the car. I realized immediately that I could not hear out of that ear.”
It’s possible, as with other high-profile NFL abuse scandals that part of this incident may have been captured on video. If that’s the case, it may be some time before the public finds out about it. Despite admitting the existence of footage containing both Johnny Manziel and Colleen Crowley, authorities refused to speak on the contents of the obtained video.
Maj. Midge Boyle also mentioned the lack of certainty as to what the outcome of the ongoing investigation would be. Said Boyle, “There has been no determination as to what charge, if any, will be filed against Mr. Manziel.” Investigators have talked to witnesses, including Crowley, and now have video evidence to consider. Interestingly, Manziel himself has not been contacted by anyone connected with the Dallas police about the alleged incident.
The Dallas Morning News reports that investigation is expected to end within a week, with the WFAA stating that source claims a decision as to whether or not to charge Johnny could come soon.
Police could finish Johnny Manziel case by next week https://t.co/szRMUPmgeE pic.twitter.com/F5Akrqolcq
— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2016
The domestic violence scandal involving Johnny Manziel is just one part of what’s considered to be the low point of the NFL quarterback’s career. It’s considered a given that the Cleveland Browns are preparing to drop Manziel as soon as it’s financially feasible to do so. At the same time, his off-field drama and poor showing on-field made his future in professional football somewhat uncertain.
Rumors about a possible relocation to the Dallas Cowboys have been all but squashed. The lack of stability in Johnny Manziel’s professional and social life has led to some concern about his overall welfare. Manziel’s father has admitted that he worries about whether or not his son will live to see his 24th birthday.
It’s hard to believe that only a few short seasons ago, Johnny Manziel was a much-anticipated player who some imagined had an “All-American” flare. The ugly downturn of his career is something that few predicted. Now, with a criminal investigation over his head, there’s a possibility that real trouble could be ahead for Manziel.
That will ultimately come down to the findings of the lead investigator, and perhaps the determination of a grand jury. Boyle admitted that Dallas authorities wanted to finish up the Manziel investigation as soon as possible, but they had to work around the schedules of multiple victims. Also, the lead investigator “is still putting the case together.” Because it’s “high profile,” police want to handle it with care.
In any case, with a video in existence, it’s likely only a matter of time before this crucial footage finds its way to media outlets and the internet. Should it contain anything particularly unflattering, it certainly won’t do any favors for Johnny Manziel’s reputation or his NFL career.
[Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images]
