Johnny Manziel is being investigated by police in Texas for what they described as an altercation between the troubled Browns quarterback and his ex-girlfriend.
Although Manziel hasn’t been arrested, the Fort Worth Police Department released a statement Saturday afternoon explaining it’s “actively working” with Dallas police “to determine if a criminal offense occurred.”
Fort Worth police were dispatched to an upscale apartment complex at about 2 a.m. Saturday after receiving a phone call about “a possible assault,” according to the statement. Officers didn’t locate the caller but talked to a 23-year-old woman on the scene who said she had been involved in a disturbance with her ex-boyfriend, Manziel.
The preliminary investigation determined a possible assault had occurred in that jurisdiction or multiple jurisdictions, per the statement, but the complainant was uncooperative with officers, and they were unable to locate a crime scene within the Fort Worth jurisdiction. The officers prepared a report, forwarded it to detectives for further investigation and notified Dallas police of a possible disturbance in their jurisdiction.
Dallas police released a statement saying they’re “in the preliminary stages of the investigation” and will release additional information when it becomes available.
The woman also told Fort Worth officers she had concerns about “the well-being” of Manziel. So police attempted to call him, checked locations in their jurisdiction and searched for him with assistance from the department’s helicopter, Air One Unit. They later determined Manziel was safe and in no danger.
Even if no charges are filed, the NFL could still discipline Manziel for the incident.
Asked if the league will investigate the matter under its personal-conduct policy, an NFL spokesman wrote in an email, “Yes. We are aware and looking into it.”
A Browns spokesman said the team had no comment.
Even before the incident, several signs were pointing to the Browns severing ties with Manziel at some point this offseason. The altercation gives them another reason to move on.
If the Browns want to cut Manziel, they could do so beginning Feb. 8, the day after the Super Bowl, when the NFL’s waiver system begins. Manziel’s personal problems have undoubtedly harmed his trade value, perhaps so much that no franchise would give up anything for him. Either way, teams can’t make trades until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. March 9.
This isn’t the first time Manziel has been investigated after fighting with a significant other.
On Oct. 12, Avon police questioned Manziel and Colleen Crowley after their infamous in-car fight. No arrests were made, and the NFL announced on Nov. 17 it wouldn’t discipline Manziel under its personal-conduct policy after launching an investigation in which the league questioned the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft and Crowley. The league stated, “based on the information gathered, we have concluded that there is an insufficient basis on which to take disciplinary action.”
When Avon police questioned Manziel and Crowley on Nagel Road after witnesses called 911 to report the couple fighting in a white Nissan GT-R, Crowley accused Manziel of hitting her and pushing her head against the car window.
In a dash-cam video, Crowley told police, “I’m in fear for my life,” adding Manziel “hit me a couple of times.”
Manziel said he did not strike Crowley but grabbed her wrist to prevent her from jumping out of the moving car, and the only physical evidence of their altercation was a scrape on her left wrist, according to the police report. One witness told police Crowley tried to open the car door while Manziel pulled her inside by putting his arm and elbow around her neck. Another witness said Manziel pulled on Crowley’s wrist to keep her in the vehicle.
According to the police report, no arrests were made and no charges were filed partly because Crowley was intoxicated and made inconsistent statements, “ranging from whether Mr. Manziel was physically abusive towards her or not.”
Police interviewed Manziel and Crowley roadside beginning at about 6:20 p.m. They had been drinking alcohol at about 2 p.m., according to the police report.
The first witness who called 911 said Manziel sped down the left shoulder of Interstate 90 west at an estimated 90 mph and cut over several lanes before exiting at Nagel Road, according to the police report. Crowley threw Manziel’s wallet out of the car during their quarrel.
Police did not perform field sobriety or portable breath tests on Manziel. According to the police report, they determined Manziel was not intoxicated and “had consumed only two alcoholic drinks several hours prior” to them questioning him.
The couple left the scene together.
Last year, Manziel spent more than 10 weeks in an inpatient rehabilitation facility specializing in alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Still, his off-field issues continued to plague him this past season, and his partying this offseason has been documented online.
BustedCoverage.com recently published videos and photographs of Manziel, 23, partying Sunday at a bar in Dallas. One photo shows him drinking what appears to be a shot of alcohol.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was asked Thursday during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards whether he was concerned about Manziel’s recent revelry.
“I think Johnny made progress on the field last year. I think that’s undeniable,” Haslam replied. “We have a certain expectation for our players and that includes Johnny, and he’s got to live up to those expectations.”
Haslam also said he thought the Browns’ relationship with Manziel could be fixed, but that doesn’t seem the least bit realistic.
Shortly after the Browns hired coach Hue Jackson on Jan. 13, he did a series of radio interviews in which he repeatedly spoke as if the team would move on from Manziel and mentioned the possibility of drafting a quarterback second or 32nd overall in late April.
“I do believe that this team does need a quarterback,” Jackson said during one of those interviews. “... I think what we need to do is look to the future and find what we think is going to be the best fit for us and go from there.”
Jackson added a quarterback must “represent the organization well” and “carry the flag for us.” He stated he wants “a guy that can help elevate this football team, not anybody that’s going to tear it down.”
He also made it clear if Manziel fled to Las Vegas the weekend of the Jan. 3 season finale while he was in concussion protocol it “would be a nonstarter with me.”
Haslam said Manziel failed to show up at team headquarters the morning of Jan. 3 for treatment the Browns require of players in the concussion protocol. As a result, the team fined Manziel, who also didn’t attend the regular-season finale the afternoon of Jan. 3 at FirstEnergy Stadium. USA Today reported Manziel was seen partying and gambling in Vegas the night of Jan. 2.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.