WALTHAM, Mass. — Boston Celtics’ Jared Sullinger stood stone-faced and wearing handcuffs in the dock of Waltham District Court on Tuesday as prosecutors said the 6-foot-9- inch, 260-pound power forward pinned his girlfriend to a bed and to the floor of their townhouse last weekend and then snatched and smashed her cellphone when she tried to call police.
“During this heated argument in the bedroom, Jared pushed her down onto the bed and got on top of her,” Waltham police wrote in their report of the confrontation. Sullinger’s girlfriend said “she tried several times to get up, but he kept pinning her down and would not let her up.”
The 21-year-old, who joined the Celtics last season, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery, intimidation of a witness, and destruction of personal property. He was released on $5,000 cash bail and ordered to contact his girlfriend only by telephone or with a third person present. Sullinger’s girlfriend had accused him of infidelity before their fight Saturday.
In a statement released by the Celtics after he left the courthouse, Sullinger described his arrest as “humbling and embarrassing.”
“I know that this situation has brought both sorrow and embarrassment to my girlfriend, my family, the Boston Celtics organization, my teammates, and my fans,” he said. “To all of you, I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
He added: “My lawyers have advised me not to discuss the case at this time. But I wanted to immediately and publicly apologize to everyone affected by this situation.”
His girlfriend, Deann Smith, who allegedly had red marks on her chest after the fight, did not seek a restraining order against Sullinger, even though prosecutors said he had previously pushed Smith and threatened her.
Smith, who spoke to the judge in a sidebar during the arraignment, declined to comment afterward.
Sullinger’s defense lawyer, Charles Rankin, said in court that Sullinger and Smith were “longtime sweethearts” who met while attending Ohio State University, where Sullinger was a renowned basketball player. Rankin told Judge Gregory C. Flynn that Smith waited 10 hours before calling Waltham police for help Saturday.
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