Derrius Guice strangled girlfriend until she was unconscious, charging documents say

The charging documents provide the first in-depth look at the allegations against Guice.

After the March incident, the woman had to leave to catch a flight at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, according to the charging documents. She told investigators she was in a hurry and did not look in the mirror until she arrived for a layover in Chicago. The woman took a photo of her injuries in a restroom. She suffered bruising to her neck, which also had colored spots on it.

Guice’s attorney, Peter D. Greenspun, issued a statement following Guice’s arrest Friday saying that investigators failed to fully examine the allegations that took place months ago and denouncing the team for releasing Guice “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,” Greenspun said.

Guice’s girlfriend also told authorities the football player pushed her to the ground in his bedroom bathroom in February, causing an injury to her left thumbnail, according to charging documents. The nail eventually fell off because of a popped blood vessel.

The woman took photographs of the injury following that Feb. 14 incident, according to the charging documents. Guice was charged with assault and battery in connection with the incident.

The same woman told authorities Guice pushed her to the ground outside his home April 17, causing her injuries, according to the charging documents. The injuries were not described in the court documents.

The woman also told investigators Guice threw her cellphone into the street, where it shattered. She photographed her injuries that day, according to the charging documents.

Washington selected Guice in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, after the Baton Rouge native starred in his hometown at LSU. He was set to begin his third NFL season before his arrest and subsequent release from the team Friday.

Coach Ron Rivera said Monday that it was his decision to immediately move on from Guice, saying it was based on what he believed was in the best interest of the team.

“Any time you have to release a young, talented football player, it’s always a tough decision,” Rivera said in a video conference call with reporters. “But this type of circumstance, this type of situation, we take those allegations very, very seriously, and we had to make the decision going forward.”

Guice’s initial court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28. He turned himself in at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center shortly after 5 p.m. Friday and was charged with one count of felony strangulation, three counts of assault and battery, and one count of destruction of property. He was handcuffed in the parking lot before being led inside, and just before 7:30 p.m. he was released on $10,000 bond.

His arrest came after three incidents were reported to the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, where the alleged victim lives, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office learned of the accusations July 22, and the investigation was coordinated by officials in both Loudoun County and Montgomery County.

On Friday, a woman filed for a temporary protective order against Guice at the Montgomery County District Courthouse in Rockville, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin. A judge granted her request, and at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday the signed temporary protective order was sent to both the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Popkin said.

The stay-away order was served on Guice in Loudoun County when he turned himself in on the criminal matter, according to Popkin. Such orders last a week before a hearing is held for a longer-lasting “permanent” order, which if granted lasts 12 months, Popkin said.

The petitioner asked that her request be shielded, Popkin said. For that reason, he declined to provide any more information and declined to say whether the petitioner was the same person involved in the criminal case.

In announcing Friday that it had cut Guice, Washington said it had learned of the allegations Thursday and immediately contacted the NFL. Team officials then met with Guice and told him he was excused from team activities while the club reviewed the situation. Rivera said Monday that “from what we learned later on, we made a decision” to release Guice.

The coach declined to elaborate on the team’s internal process but said that, in speaking with his players Sunday, he told them that he made the decision he felt was best for the franchise.

“And if it was the right decision, we will benefit from it. And if it’s not, it will be on me,” Rivera said. “I will take full responsibility as we go forward to try and make sure we do things the right way, and we’ll go from there.”

When asked about the differences between Guice’s situation and that of linebacker Reuben Foster, who was arrested on domestic violence charges before Washington’s previous regime acquired him in November 2018, Rivera said Foster was able to “show that he was exonerated for the most part.” The charges against Foster, who is recovering from a severe knee injury he suffered in the spring of 2019, were later dropped.

“Reuben and I have talked about some things, some specific stuff — I’m not going to get into details,” Rivera said. “But the one thing Reuben has shown since I’ve been here is that he is doing things the right way. … He’s done great things in terms of his rehab. He’s done a great job in terms of working with our coaches. I’m excited for the young man’s opportunity. You know, here’s a guy who needed a change of scenery. I think that may be one of the things that has truly benefited him.

“Who knows? That’s what might be needed in Derrius’s case — an opportunity for a change of scenery.”

Dan Morse contributed to this report.