By Chelsea Phua
cphua@sacbee.com
Los Angeles Lakers player Matt Barnes was arrested and booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on Wednesday night on a felony domestic violence charge.
Sacramento County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said deputies responded to an incomplete 911 call from the 8100 block of Sunset Avenue at about 4:15 p.m., where they encountered Barnes and a woman "who lived with him and with whom he had a dating relationship."
After speaking to Barnes and the woman, later identified as his fiancee, Gloria Govan, deputies determined that the two had been in a physical confrontation and Barnes had prevented the woman from talking to 911 operators. Curran said dispatchers heard the sound of a struggle in the background on the brief open line until it was disconnected.
Both parties had visible injuries but Barnes was determined to be the primary aggressor, Curran said.
Barnes is also charged with maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line, Curran said. He posted a $50,000 bond and was released shortly before 9:40 p.m.
He is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
"U know any domestic violence situation 9 outa 10 times the man gets arrested," Barnes wrote in a text message to Bryan May of News10, according to a report on the station's website. "That's the case here I was the victim but still got arrested. No matter what I say people are gonna think what they want..."
Laura M. Wright, a public relations executive, who says she represents both Barnes and his fiancee, released this statement on behalf of Govan:
"Any accusation of domestic violence are false. My fiancé, Matt Barnes, has never physically abused me or my family."
Barnes, 30, who grew up in Sacramento and starred at Del Campo High School, signed a two-year contract worth $3.6 million in July with the Lakers as a free agent forward. From October 2004 to February 2005, Barnes played for the Sacramento Kings before being traded, along with Chris Webber and Michael Bradley, to the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to his profile on the NBA's website, Barnes and his fiancée have twin boys. Attempts to reach Barnes and his family were unsuccessful Wednesday night.
Call The Bee's Chelsea Phua, (916) 321-1132.
Matt Barnes comment on Twitter:
DON'T LET YOUR EARS WITNESS, WHAT YOUR EYES DIDN'T SEE!!! http://myloc.me/bGpax
Matt Barnes
Matt_Barnes22
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