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Will Atlanta Braves drop Marcell Ozuna? MLB starts probe as outfielder posts $20K bond to get out of jail

An arrest affidavit has recently revealed details surrounding the arrest of Atlanta Braves player following domestic violence accusations

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An arrest affidavit has recently revealed details surrounding the arrest of Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna and it shares a very troubling story of what might have happened before the police arrived at the scene. On Saturday, May 29, Ozuna was arrested on a count of aggravated assault strangulation and misdemeanor battery-family violence charges. A question on many fans' minds is if Ozuna, who is currently in the first year of a four-year, $65 million deal with the Braves, will be dropped after this.

Ozuna was reportedly released from Georgia's Fulton County Jail on Monday, May 31 after posting a $20,000 bond, with an order of no contact with his wife Genesis Guzman. Attorneys reportedly said in court that the couple is in the process of divorce. Together, they have three children and have reportedly been married for more than 10 years.

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What happened that night? 

According to the affidavit, acquired by Atlanta's WSB-TV, the conflict between Ozuna and his wife began when he took both of her cellphones while she was in the shower and refused to return them after she confronted him and they argued over infidelity. "He threatened to kill her and she threatened to call 911," the affidavit said. "She took his cellphone from a table and called 911." At that point, Ozuna allegedly left the house with the cell phones as she chased after him. The affidavit claims Ozuna warned Guzman in Spanish that he was "not going to hit her harder because the police were en route".

Guzman then reportedly went back into the house, locked the front door while still on call with 911. "She told the 911 operator that said accused was coming back and grabbed a large kitchen knife from a drawer," according to an arrest affidavit. "Accused re-entered the house via the garage door and into the kitchen where she was. He continued to yell and verbally abuse her. Therefore, said accused held the knife by her hip and warned said accused that if he got closer, she was going to hurt him."

Ozuna’s wife told police that she was afraid for her life due to his "aggressive behavior and being physically abusive towards her in the past," court documents revealed.

Ozuna’s wife reportedly told police that he refused to give her her phone back, so she dropped the knife and walked toward him. She then proceeded to grab him by the waistband of his pants while attempting to reach for her phones, according to an arrest affidavit. “Accused then brought his hand down and punched her in the back of the hands with the cellphones (that he held in his right hand), according to an arrest affidavit. " Accused then pushed his left hand and forearm (which was in a hard cast) against victim’s face pushing her back and mushing her in the face with it several times."

Police say that the fight then continued when Guzman says her husband pushed her to the ground as they continued to fight over the phone. "Victim stated that said accused grabbed her by her throat by wrapping his fingers around," an investigator wrote in an arrest affidavit. “He then held her up against the wall, preventing her from breathing."

When police arrived to find Ozuna choking Guzman against the wall, that is when he stopped assaulting his wife. Police at the scene observed "several purple and red bruises on back of victim’s hand consistent with trauma to the back of her hands. In addition to that , she had redness on her right forearm, consistent with being pushed and tossed around as described above. Upon arrival, I noticed redness on the left side of her forehead. Although there were no marks on her neck, the strangulation was witnessed by an officer."

Will Atlanta Braves drop Marcell Ozuna?

MLB has reportedly also announced it will investigate Ozuna under its domestic violence policy. The charge is reportedly a felony with a minimum of one year in prison and a maximum of 20.

The Atlanta Braves issued a statement following their player's arrest. The statement reads that it fully supports MLB's policy on domestic violence, "which stresses to the fullest that our society cannot and will not tolerate domestic violence in any form." The player is currently in the first year of a four-year, $65 million deal with the Braves. "Until the investigation is completed, we will have no further comment and all inquiries into the matter should be referred to the office of the commissioner."

According to sources who reveal to ESPN, "Major League Baseball will launch an investigation that could result in a significant suspension. Further, sources said, the police’s reported witnessing of the incident could prompt the Braves to attempt to convert Ozuna’s four-year, $65 million contract to non-guaranteed."