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Arizona Cardinals Player Jonathan Dwyer Arrested on Domestic Violence Allegations

Arizona Cardinals backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested in connection with domestic abuse allegations, Phoenix police said Wednesday night.

Running back Jonathan Dwyer, #20, of the Arizona Cardinals is shown scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2014, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Credit: Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

The Cardinals deactivated Dwyer after news of the arrest, according to a news release from the team.

CNN’s calls to the office of Dwyer’s agent, Adisa Bakari, weren’t immediately returned.

The announcement from the Phoenix Police Department said two incidents allegedly occurred on consecutive days in late July. They were reported last week.

Detectives interviewed Dwyer and he “admitted to the incidents, however, denied any physical assaults,” the police statement said.

Police said he was booked on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.

The two victims were a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child, police said.

Dwyer is being held at the Maricopa County Jail.

The Cardinals said they became aware of the allegations when contacted by police.

Dwyer, 25, is the fourth NFL player to be in the headlines this week. Two other players, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings and Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers, took paid leave from their teams to focus on their legal cases.

Peterson has been charged in Texas with child abuse. Hardy has been convicted of misdemeanor assault charges in North Carolina and has been granted the opportunity to have a new trial, this time in front of a jury.

“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”

And running back Ray Rice has an appeal with the NFL in connection with his indefinite suspension after a domestic violence incident.

Dwyer is listed as the No. 2 running back for the Cardinals behind Andre Ellington. He is in his fifth NFL season and first with the Cardinals.

Dwyer has 51 yards on 16 carries in two games this year.