Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday morning and charged with one count of simple battery after allegedly slapping his girlfriend across the face.
"At approximately 8:26 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2013, the Gainesville Police Department received a 911 call from a witness that reported a male subject and a female subject involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical," a Gainesville Police Department statement read.
"Officers arrived and identified Christopher J. Rainey as the male involved. Witnesses told officers that Rainey and the victim got into an argument over Rainey’s cell phone. The female victim entered the vehicle of Rainey’s roommate, and Rainey confronted her on the passenger side of the vehicle, and began pulling her out of the vehicle.
"Witnesses then observed Rainey slap the victim across the face with an open hand. Both Rainey and the female victim then fell to the ground. The victim was able to run away, but Rainey chased after her because his cell phone was in a bag the victim was carrying. Rainey grabbed the bag again, and they both fell to the ground again. Neither party suffered visible injuries from the encounter. Multiple witnesses confirmed the incident.
"The investigation revealed that Rainey and the female victim have been in a dating relationship for approximately nine months. Rainey was ultimately arrested by the Gainesville Police Department and charged with one count of simple battery (dating violence.) Rainey was transported to the Alachua County Jail for booking."
It's the second arrest for Rainey, who played at the University of Florida. In September 2010, Rainey was charged with third-degree aggravated felony stalking for allegedly sending a former girlfriend a threatening text message. He received six months of probation.
