University of Houston football player Carmello Dedric Brooks is facing an unusual legal situation after being arrested following a dispute with his pregnant girlfriend, Nariah Harley.
But the woman involved is now defending him.
According to reports, Brooks was accused of assaulting the woman during an argument at his home. She has since told authorities that Brooks did not assault her and had never been aggressive toward her “whatsoever.”
That certainly adds another twist to an already complicated story.
The woman said the argument happened after she told Brooks that she was pregnant. Naturally, that is not exactly the kind of news people expect to discuss over a casual snack and a movie.
Things reportedly became tense between the couple, and according to her account, she refused to leave Brooks’ home. She said Brooks then called 911 before picking her up and placing her outside.
And that is where this story gets even more complicated.
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The woman is maintaining that Brooks never attacked her. Her account differs from the circumstances surrounding his arrest and the allegations made against him.
She said police noticed a bruise on her arm. Because Brooks was also wanted on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant, she said she did not believe he would be charged in her case.
“I was way too close to him, almost putting my hands on him,” she told KPRC 2 News.
The woman said she disputes investigators’ claim that Brooks slammed her to the ground and that she would feel “forever guilt” if the case ended his football career because, she said, “he did not hit me whatsoever.”
Brooks’ attorney, Brent Wasserstein, said the defense believes additional facts will support Brooks’ account of what happened.
“We know there are important facts that need to be carefully considered and we fully expect those facts to clearly prove Carmello’s complete innocence as the investigation progresses,” Wasserstein said in a statement to KPRC 2 News.
Wasserstein said Brooks has “a great deal at stake,” including his education, football career and future. He said Brooks will continue to comply with the court’s requirements and allow the case to move forward through the legal process.
Relationships can be complicated, arguments can become emotional, and apparently, this one escalated enough for police to become involved.
The important point is that the competing accounts should not be confused with a final determination of what happened.
For now, Brooks is dealing with the legal fallout while his girlfriend is publicly defending him.
There is no touchdown celebration for this situation.
No playbook can really prepare someone for it either.
The case will have to work its way through the legal system, where the evidence and testimony can be examined properly.
Until then, the internet can probably resist turning a serious legal matter into another social-media courtroom.
