RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks broad receiver Dee Eskridge, again from a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage, apologized Friday for the incident of alleged home violence that led to his arrest earlier this yr.
Eskridge, a second-round choose by the Seahawks in 2021, was arrested within the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington, in February after an altercation with the mom of his youngster. Based on court docket information obtained by ESPN, he was charged with fourth-degree assault/home violence and interfering with reporting home violence, each gross misdemeanors. The latter cost has since been dismissed.
“First off, I’d identical to to apologize to the group, apologize to my household, all people that was affected by it,” Eskridge stated in his first public feedback for the reason that arrest got here to gentle when the NFL introduced his suspension in August. “I take full duty within the state of affairs and I’ve grown from it. I am simply able to get it behind me and be the particular person I am meant to be and never all of these things.”
The alleged incident occurred on Feb. 4. Based on a felony criticism filed in King County District Courtroom, the lady instructed Bellevue PD that Eskridge, 26, had just lately been going by periodic bouts of rage, and that she might sense he was having anger administration points when he arrived residence that night. She went into their bed room with their then-3-month-old daughter and locked the door with a purpose to keep away from Eskridge, who gained entry into the room after listening to the kid crying.
The girl instructed police she stood between Eskridge and their daughter, holding up her hand to create area between the 2, and that Eskridge smacked her hand out of the air earlier than shoving her right into a dresser. Based on the lady, Eskridge then threw her to the bottom and used his palms to pin her down earlier than she kicked him to interrupt free.
The girl instructed police that when she regained her ft, Eskridge shoved her right into a dresser once more earlier than grabbing her neck — with out constricting her airway or blood vessels — and shoved her to the bottom a second time. The girl stated Eskridge took her private cellphone and Apple Watch to stop her from calling 911, and that she managed to position the decision on her work cellphone however didn’t understand the decision related.
Eskridge, who was holding the kid when police arrived, initially instructed officers that the altercation by no means grew to become bodily, in line with the felony criticism. Police documented a number of scrapes and purple marks on the lady’s arms, neck and chest. Based mostly on these accidents and the lady’s account, officers decided possible trigger to arrest him.
Based on the criticism, Eskridge gave one other assertion after being positioned below arrest, saying he sensed the lady’s temper was off when he returned residence, that he did not need their daughter to be round her in that state and that he grew to become involved for the kid’s security when he heard her crying. Eskridge stated that when he entered the bed room, the lady stumbled and fell backward, and that she kicked him earlier than grabbing him whereas she was on the ground.
Eskridge instructed police the lady got here at him after regaining her ft and that she scratched the suitable facet of his neck. The officer wrote that he was not in a position to make out any apparent marks of abrasions on Eskridge’s neck, and that Eskridge stated he didn’t know the place the marks on the lady’s physique got here from.
Eskridge pleaded not responsible to each costs and was launched on private recognizance on Feb. 6. Based on King County District Courtroom information, the cost of interfering with home violence reporting was dismissed on Could 25. Eskridge obtained a deferred prosecution on the assault cost, with 18 months of supervised probation.
Per an settlement Eskridge entered into, the fees shall be dismissed in 12 months upon completion of home violence remedy.
“I am doing remedy,” Eskridge stated Friday. “I have been doing that. It is serving to me develop as a person. I am a younger man. Everyone makes errors.”
Eskridge’s lawyer, Jared Ausserer, instructed ESPN: “From Dee’s perspective, he regrets the incident however has taken full duty for what has transpired and is engaged in therapy to make sure that nothing like this ever occurs once more, however he was actually simply involved for his youngster and has taken duty. Ultimately, hopefully this case shall be dismissed shortly.”
Eskridge’s suspension ended Monday, although he was allowed to return to crew headquarters two weeks in the past. The Seahawks obtained a roster exemption that has allowed him to observe this week with out counting towards the 53-man roster. He was restricted on Wednesday (knee) and a full participant on Thursday and Friday. Eskridge injured his knee within the Seahawks’ Aug. 10 preseason opener and didn’t return to observe earlier than his suspension started.
Coach Pete Carroll stopped wanting declaring that the crew will activate Eskridge forward of Sunday’s sport towards the Cleveland Browns however stated the receiver is bodily able to play.
“He simply sort of reminded us of the man that we hoped to see and anticipate,” Carroll stated. “He is fast and explosive and all that stuff and he is come again able to go. He is actually ready properly to do this.”
Chosen 56th general out of Western Michigan in 2021, Eskridge appeared in solely 20 video games over his first two seasons due to varied accidents, together with a extreme concussion he suffered in his NFL debut. He has 17 catches for 122 yards and one landing in his profession.
ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne contributed to this report.
