Lakers forward Matt Barnes arrested on Domestic Violence charges, says he was ‘the victim’

Matt Barnes, a forward for the L.A. Lakers, was arrested last night and charged with maliciously obstructing a phone line after a woman “who lived with him and with whom he had a dating relationship” made an incomplete 911 call.

The LA Times “Lakers Blog” reports that police responded to the call and it appeared that Barnes had prevented the unidentified woman from completing the report:

The story states that deputies determined that Barnes and a woman believed to be his girlfriend had a physical confrontation, that Barnes prevented her from talking to 911 operators and that both had visible injuries.

Barnes, who was signed for a two-year deal to the Lakers this year, posted $50,000 in bond and was released at 9:40 pm from the Sacramento County Main Jail. Barnes later texted a local news anchor and asserted that he was actually “the victim” in the incident:

Barnes responded to a text message from News10’s Bryan May late Wednesday, texting, “U know any domestic violence situation 9 outa 10 times the man gets arrested. That’s the case here I was the victim but still got arrested. No matter what I say people are gonna think what they want…”

Barnes later tweeted:

DON’T LET YOUR EARS WITNESS, WHAT YOUR EYES DIDN’T SEE!!!

He is due to appear in court on Monday.