Miami Dolphins axes running back Mark Walton after he's arrested for repeatedly punching pregnant girlfriend in the face
The Miami Dolphins have released running back Mark Walton after his arrest for assaulting a pregnant woman in Davie Florida. General Manager Chris Grier said in a statement, "We hold our players to a high standard and take these matters very seriously." Walton was arrested for punching his pregnant girlfriend on the face and head and charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant person, which is a felony offense carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years.
According to the Denver Post, officers went to a home in the Fort Lauderdale suburban area on Tuesday at 4:15 am where the pregnant girlfriend told the cops that Walton had punched her in the face and head numerous times and left her left eye swollen. She also said that he had pushed her against the wall while doing so. She said that she was five weeks into her pregnancy with his child and had informed Walton of it on Sunday.
This is his fourth arrest this year, the news outlet reported. Walton, 22, had served a suspension of two games out of four for violating NFL substance abuse policies and had been eligible to play on December 2. He was brought on in May to the Dolphins after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals after his arrests. At the time, team coach Brian Flores had said, "I think people deserve a second chance. I don’t want to judge people based on one incident, two incidents."
His 2017 charges included a felony misdemeanor weapons charge, marijuana possession, and reckless driving, with the two former charges dismissed. He was sentenced to six months' probation on the weapons charge by a Florida court. He was also arrested for battery charges on a separate occasion, according to reports.
"I don’t think the allegations are true", his attorney Michael Gottlieb told NBC. "We’ve now had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Walton, he’s been interviewed in the jail, and I don’t think the allegations are true based on our conversation with him," the attorney said.