Warning: Video may be disturbing
Months after former Los Angeles Dodgers star Julio Urías pleaded no contest to a domestic battery charge, video of the incident has been released.
Obtained by the Los Angeles Times from the California Highway Patrol via public records request, the video originated from a witness to the incident. The video stems from Urías’ September arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence outside of BMO Stadium in L.A. following a LAFC soccer match.
The video, which corroborates the comments made at the time that charges were pressed by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, shows Urías rush his wife before pushing her up against a fence, grabbing her hair and shoulders. As bystanders attempted to intervene, he’s seen trying to punch the woman.
Despite the arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence, the DA’s Office opted to charge the former 28-year-old left handed pitcher with misdemeanor domestic battery, to which he then pleaded no contest.
“Neither the Victim’s injuries nor the Defendant’s criminal history justify a felony filing,” charging documents read.
Urías was also arrested in May 2019 on suspicion of domestic battery, but he wasn’t charged on the condition he complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program.
He was placed under administrative leave by Major League Baseball after his September arrest. His contract with the Dodgers expired after last year’s World Series and he remains a free agent as MLB mulls a decision on whether he’ll be suspended.
Urías was suspended by MLB for 20 games in 2018 after his initial domestic battery arrest. No player has ever been suspended twice under MLB’s domestic violence policy.
