Cardinals running back charged with hitting wife

PHOENIX – Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been formally charged with assaulting his wife during two arguments in July at their Phoenix apartment.

An indictment publicly released late Friday charges Dwyer with felony aggravated assault and eight misdemeanours, including assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.

Investigators say Dwyer broke his wife’s nose with a head-butt during a July 21 argument and engaged in a dispute the following day in which he punched his wife and threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son, who wasn’t injured.

Dwyer had been booked on Sept. 17 on suspicion of aggravated assault against his son, but the indictment doesn’t charge him with any crimes related to the child.

Prosecutors say it’s not unusual for grand juries to return slightly different charges than those initially brought in a case.

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A message left for Jared Allen, an attorney representing Dwyer, wasn’t immediately returned Monday.

Police say the first dispute between the couple erupted after Dwyer’s wife learned about his recent phone contact with another woman and came to believe her husband was cheating.

The arrest came at a time when the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell are under fire over a series of violent off-the-field encounters involving some marquee players, including Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy.

The NFL has said the Dwyer case will be reviewed under the league’s personal-conduct policy. The day after his arrest, the Cardinals placed Dwyer on the reserve/non-football illness list, meaning he can’t play for Arizona again this season.

An Oct. 6 status conference has been scheduled for Dwyer.