Washington Releases RB Derrius Guice After Domestic Violence Arrest

Guice faces one felony count of strangulation, among other charges

Derrius Guice Washington
Derrius Guice of Washington runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019.
Dylan Buell/Getty Images

The Washington Football Team acted quickly on Friday, releasing Derrius Guice after the 23-year-old running back was arrested on domestic violence charges. The team reportedly learned of the allegations on Thursday and notified the NFL, before announcing his release two hours after he was taken into custody at Loudoun Adult Detention Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

In a statement, the team said that they excused Guice from team activities on Thursday pending a review, before cutting him the following day:

This afternoon we learned that there were multiple charges filed against Derrius. Upon review of the nature of these charges and following internal discussions, we have decided to release Derrius immediately.

According to Adam Schefter, Guice is facing one felony charge of strangulation, as well three counts of assault and battery and one of destruction of property. Guice turned himself in to the authorities and was released on bond almost three hours later.

In a statement obtained by The Washington Post, Guice’s attorney, Peter D. Greenspun, said that the running back will fight the charges in court, and that Washington acted in bad faith:

Derrius … was released without a single question as to what occurred. Derrius will defend these charges in court, where a full vetting of the allegations will take place, in contrast to actions by local law enforcement and the Washington Football Team that assumed the worst, directly contradicting every sense of fairness and due process.

Guice was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft and struggled with injuries in his first two seasons: he missed his rookie year due to a torn ACL, and suffered a torn meniscus and a sprained MCL last year. He did perform well when he was able to stay on the field, averaging 5.8 yards per carry in 42 rushing attempts last season.

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Read the full story at The Washington Post

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