Bears defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female following an incident at a hotel in Charlotte the night before the Bears' Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers.
A police report obtained by NBC Sports Chicago listed both Edwards and a woman as victims in the incident. The narrative section of the police report reads:
“On Oct. 18, 2020 at 12:10, officers responded to 222 East 3rd Street in reference to a female hitting a male with her hand and scratching his forehead.”
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While the Mecklenburg County District Attorney filed criminal charges against Edwards, the woman filed a domestic violence order of protection against the 26-year-old defensive lineman.
TMZ was the first to report the charges and allegations against Edwards. TMZ accessed the civil filing against Edwards, in which the woman claims Edwards became violent with her after she rebuffed his sexual advances. From TMZ:
“The woman claims she took out her phone to record Edwards yelling at her – and he reacted by smacking her in the eye with his hand. Then, she claims, Edwards grabbed her by the arm and ‘dragged her to the door of the hotel room.’ The woman claims Edwards continued his attack down the hall by an elevator where he struck her in her arm.”
TMZ reported the woman claimed she was pregnant and was hospitalized for the injuries she suffered during the incident, and she alleged Edwards “has a history of violent outbursts with her.”
NFL
Edwards’ agent, in a text to NBC Sports Chicago, denied the charges against his client, saying “he was the victim.”
Edwards’ case is unserved and he does not have a court date yet set in Mecklenburg County.
It’s unknown if, in addition to the criminal and civil complaints against Edwards, he violated the NFL’s coronavirus protocol by having a visitor in the team hotel.
A statement from the Bears sent Tuesday afternoon read:
“We are aware of the situation involving Mario Edwards, Jr. We are doing our due diligence to thoroughly review and understand the facts. We take any allegations of this nature very seriously, both internally and with the NFL.”
Edwards had two sacks in the Bears' 36-7 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Pro Football Talk reported Tuesday morning the NFL is looking into the allegations.