The Dolphins cut running back Mark Walton on Tuesday after he was arrested on charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.
According to the police report from Davie, Fla., Walton got into an argument with the woman, whose name was withheld, around 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday. He pushed her against a wall and “punched her several times in the face and head,” leaving her with swelling around her left eye.
The woman is five weeks pregnant and Walton is the father, the police said, noting in the report that he had been informed of the pregnancy on Sunday.
There was no immediate comment from Walton. His lawyer declined to comment to The Associated Press.
“We were made aware of a police matter earlier this morning regarding Mark Walton,” the team’s general manager, Chris Grier, said in a release. “We hold our players to a high standard and take these matters very seriously. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Walton was serving a four-game suspension without pay for violating the N.F.L.’s personal conduct and substance abuse policy after he was arrested three times from January to March. Reckless driving, marijuana possession and battery charges stemming from separate incidents were eventually dismissed, but not before video of him running from and being tased by the police in the Miami area surfaced. He was sentenced to six months of probation on a misdemeanor weapons charge in August.
Walton had been due for reinstatement on Dec. 2.
Walton led the Dolphins (2-8) in rushing with 201 yards this season, although he started only four games. He was in his second year in the N.F.L. after playing sparingly with the Bengals as a rookie. Cincinnati cut him in April after his three arrests, but Miami signed him after a tryout in May.
During that trial, which came in rookie minicamp, Dolphins Coach Brian Flores told The Palm Beach Post, “I think people deserve a second chance.”
“I don’t want to judge people based on one incident. Two incidents. I think it’s a case-by-case situation for a player and for people in general. That’s kind of my stance.”
Walton was a fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Miami in 2018. While at Miami he was suspended from the team after a charge of driving under the influence.
Source: Football - nytimes.com
