Yesterday we reported on the arrest of Steelers running back Chris Rainey who allegedly smacked his girlfriend because she confiscated his cell phone.
Later in the day he was subsequently released by team despite showing promise this past season.
Deadspin is now reporting that an eye-witness to yesterdays events, and Rainey’s next door neighbor has a different account of what took place.
The witness who identified herself as Heather M., wrote a letter to an AFC North blogger who works for ESPN. The blogger suggested Heather send her information to Deadspin and the rest is history.
In the email, Heather M. suggest that Rainey did not smack his girlfriend.
Heather M:
Mr. Hensley,
I am writing you in regard to your article about the Steeler’s dismissal of Chris Rainey after his arrest this morning. Chris is actually my next door neighbor and I happened to see the whole ordeal transpire from my apartment as I was getting ready for class this morning. What the police report/your article describes as Chris “pull[ing] the woman out of a vehicle…and then slapp[ing] her in the face with an open hand” was actually him pulling on a backpack that she was also holding and she took a few steps outside the open car door that she was sitting sideways in (because he obviously pulled harder than she did). The only thing that I can imagine witnesses claiming to be a slap to the face was when he tried to snatch the bag and she put her hand in the way and his hand made a slapping noise against hers.
By the time I left for class, there were police officers taking statements, but the girl with whom he was arguing was telling the police officers the truth about what happened, so I did not feel it was necessary to make a statement. It seemed like they were just going through a formality because 911 was called. As a result of reading your article, I contacted GPD and asked to file a report on what actually happened. I was treated like a criminal, despite being a straight A student and never having even a little trouble with the law. I was accused of lying and told that, although they can’t tell me who reported what, there was at least one witness who said they saw him slap her in the face.
I think that it is also worth noting that the person who called 911 was a neighbor who openly dislikes Chris and his roommate and wanders the neighborhood asking if she can have our passwords for our internet instead of buying her own.
Thank you,
Heather M.
I find it truly hilarious that Heather M., added the fact that witness is a wandering neighbor who goes around bumming wi-fi and stealing signals, as if that would make her less credible of a witness.