CLEVELAND — 3News Investigates has learned of new developments in the criminal case against Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.
Avon police arrested Hall last week on domestic violence and assault charges following an altercation with his fiancée. Now, Hall's fiancée is changing her story.
Specifically, Hall's fiancée has recanted the most egregious of the accusations — the claim that Hall held a gun to her head. We're also learning about a previous incident between the couple last year that led to her arrest for attacking Hall.
Sources tell 3News Investigates that Hall's fiancée, also the mother of their 11-month-old son, told the Avon city prosecutor that she was "mistaken" when she gave her account to police that Hall had "pressed the firearm against her temple" and threatened her.
She also claimed that during the fight, Hall threw a baby bottle at her, grabbed her by her feet and dragged her down the driveway.
3News Investigates found more context to Hall's contentious relationship.
Last year Hall's fiancée was the one arrested by Columbus Airport Authority Police after allegedly hitting Hall on the left side of his head with a glass bottle, leaving shattered glass at the scene. Hall was treated by medics on the scene for a minor injury.
The woman, who was then 6-weeks pregnant at the time with the couple's first child, was charged with domestic violence and assault.
However the case was later dismissed by a Franklin County Municipal Judge because Hall declined to be a prosecuting witness.
Glenn Harris, Director of Prevention for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network hopes that Hall's very public case sends a message about the need to tackle domestic violence at its root causes.
"Yes, you're under a microscope. Yes, there's a great deal of responsibility that's gonna come along with what you've been given," said Harris about professional athletes like Hall.
"Let's be proactive and say, what can we do as a culture and society prevent the situation from ever occurring. There has to be a certain attitude or belief that someone has to have in order to inflict domestic violence or to inflict violence in general," he explained.
"So we want to see what communication, what training, what type of education we can do, and not just at the professional level, but it starts much, much earlier," said Harris.
Despite Hall's fiancée's recanting of her most serious accusations, Avon Police will continue to investigate.
CASE BACKGROUND
A detailed incident report obtained by the Associated Press said officers responded to a call at 10 p.m. on Aug. 12 from a woman who claimed that Hall had pushed her daughter and struck her with a baby bottle.
According to the incident report, the woman said Hall, had thrown her belongings outside and dragged her along a porch and driveway. At one point, the woman said Hall put a gun to her temple and said, “I will (expletive) end it all.”
The woman did not seek medical treatment.
Hall locked the woman out of the house and left in a pickup truck, according to the report.
During an arraignment hearing last week, Hall pleaded not guilty and a personal bond of $10,000 was set. He will appear in Avon Lake Municipal Court on Sept. 10.
THE BROWNS' RESPONSE
The Cleveland Browns released the following statement to 3News on Aug. 13:
"We are aware of the incident involving Mike Hall, Jr. last night. Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time."
The Browns are allowing the 21-year-old to practice while the legal process plays out. He also played in last Saturday's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski was asked last week about the optics of allowing Hall to remain active and around the team.
"I understand what you're asking, honestly," Stefanski said. "But for us, we have to trust in the process and really it's that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report