Ex-Giants Lineman Luke Petitgout Arrested For Assaulting Wife

Former New York Giants offensive lineman Luke Petitout was arrested Tuesday for hitting his wife and pushing her out of a car in New York City. The couple had gotten into an argument, and things turned physical when the 37-year-old accused his wife of cheating on him.

The incident happened around 5:30 am on August 2 in the Meatpacking District. Jennifer Petitgout said her husband hit her over the head with her purse, pushed her out of the car, and drove off. She fell onto the street and scraped her arms. She took a cab to the NYPD’s 1st Precinct in Tribeca and filed a report. A police source said she had “visible abrasions to her head, arms, and breasts.”

Reports differ as to whether the car was moving or parked.

After filing the police report, 36-year-old Jennifer Petitgout went to New York Down Hospital to be examined. She was later released.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Luke Petitgout turned himself in Tuesday morning and was initially charged with felony assault. During his arraignment, the charges were dropped to second-degree aggravated misdemeanor. Petitgout was released on his own recognizance and placed under a limited order of protection.

Petitgout’s attorney, Dennis Ring, said his client denies the charges against him.

“Mr. Petitgout never hurt a soul in his life off the football field,” he said. “This case is going to be dismissed. He can go home tonight. His wife is fine.”

When reached for comment by different reporters, Jennifer Petitgout also denied that her husband assaulted her. But according to The New York Post, family members believe that this isn’t the first time Petitgout has beaten his wife of 13 years. One relative said Jennifer Petitgout claimed she suffered a black eye after her baby daughter hit her with an elbow, but no one believed her.

Luke Petitgout was the New York Giants‘ first-round draft pick in 1999. He played for the team until 2006, and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His brief stay with the team ended with a knee injury four games into the 2007 season. He then retired from the NFL in August 2008 after a steroids violation.

Do you think Luke Petitout assaulted his wife?

[Photo credit: Alexa627 / Flickr]