Sha’Carri Richardson, an Olympic gold medallist, was detained on suspicion of beating her partner, fellow athlete Christian Coleman.
Following a TSA agent’s allegation of a lady punching a man as she was leaving the security checkpoint, the Team USA Olympic sprinter was arrested on Sunday at SeaTac Airport in Washington State.
Security footage, according to the reporting officer, shows a verbal disagreement turning physical when Richardson shoved “Coleman hard enough that it [sent] him crashing into a nearby column.”
Coleman attempted to leave his two-year relationship, according to the officer, but she persisted in pursuing him and once again shoved him “hard enough that it [sent] him flying a few feet away.”
According to police, the altercation escalated when Coleman went back to the TSA screening lanes “in an attempt to get help,” and video captures Richardson pursuing him and hitting him with a pair of headphones.
After seeing the video, the responding officer established probable cause and took Richardson into jail. She was charged with fourth-degree assault and admitted to the SCORE jail.
According to the report, Coleman “declined to be a victim” or to file charges, and both Richardson and Coleman denied any physical altercation during a police interview.
Sha’Carri and Coleman both competed in a track event Thursday in Oregon, though it’s unclear when Richardson was released.
